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1877 
SMC 


THREE  MIDDLE-IRISH  HOMILIES 


ON 


THE  LIVES  OF  SAINTS 

PATRICK,  BRIGIT  AND  COLUMBA. 


EDITED    BY 

WHITLEY   STOKES. 


\Om  hundred  copies  privately  printed^ 


CALCUTTA:  1877. 


the  ppesence  of  this  Book 


thejm  kelly 
has  Been  made  possiBle 
thpouqh  the  qeneposity 


Stephen  B.  Roman 

From  the  Library  of  Daniel  Binchy 


TO 


PROFESSOR  ERNST  WINDISCH, 


FROM    WHOM    I     HAVE    ALREADY     LEARNT    MUCH     AND    HOPE    TO    LEARN     MORE. 


CONTENTS. 

PREFACE         ...                       ...                       ...                       ...  ...  ...  Vli 

ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  PATRICK  ...                ...  ...  ...  2 

ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  BRIGIT    ...                ...  ...  ...  50 

ON  THE  LIFR  OF  SAINT  COLUMBA...                ...  ...  ...  90 

INDEX  OF  NAMES  OF  PERSONS       ...                ...  ...  ...  127 

INDEX  OF  LOCAL  NAMES,  TRIBES,  AND  RACES  ...  ...  129 

INDEX  OF  THE  RARER  WORDS        ...                 ..  ...  ...  131 

CORRECTIONS  AND  ADDITIONS  138 


PREFACE. 

THIS  volume  contains  three  Middle  Irish  homilies,  hitherto 
imprinted,  transcribed  from  the  lithographic  facsimile  of  the 
Lebar  Brecc,  a  manuscript  of  the  fifteenth  century  preserved  in 
the  library  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 

The  first  of  these  homilies,  on  the  text  Isaiah  IX,  2,  deals 
with  the  life  of  Patrick.     It  supplies  some  defects  found  in  each 
of  the  two  manuscripts  (Egerton  93  and  Rawl.  B.  512)  of  the  so- 
called  Tripartite  Life  of  that  saint :  it  sets  forth  with  distinctness 
the  prior  mission  of  Palladius:    it   gives    (p.   18)  a   remarkable 
instance  of  self-cremation:  it  refers  (p.  26)  to  an  ordeal  by  water: 
it  exemplifies  (p.  34)  the  practice  of  shewing  reverence  by  walking 
round  persons  or  things  keeping  the  right  hand  towards   them 
(the  Indian  dakshi«am  kri) :  it  contains  (pp.  20,  30)  two  or  three 
old  proverbs  :  it  illustrates  (passim)  the  incredible  credulity  of  the 
medieval  Irish ;  and  it  furnishes  examples  of  some  rare  words  and 
verbal  forms.     But  I  cannot  say  that  in  other  respects  it  is  of 
much,  or  indeed  of  any,  value. 

The  second  homily,  on  the  text  Apoc.  XIV,  4,   deals  with 
the  life  of  Brigit,  and  furnishes  a  good  example  of  the  way  in 
which  heathen  mythological  legends  become  annexed  to  historical 
Christian  Saints.*     Thus  from  the  story  of  Brigit  one  may,  with 
out  much  rashness,  pick  out  the  following  incidents  as  having 
originally  belonged  to  the  myth  or  the  ritual  of  some  goddess  of 
fire.     Brigit  (cf.  Skr.  bhargas  '  glanz'  Grassmann,  ^Ae'yw,  OAt'yvc, 
QXotj/uIgur?)  was  born  at  sunrise  (infra  p.  56),  neither  within  nor 
without    a    house  (ibid.) :    bathed  in    milk    (ibid.) :    her    breath 
revives  the  dead  (ibid.) :  a  house  in  which  she  is  staying  flames  up 
to  heaven :  cowdung  blazes  before  her  (ibid.) :  oil  is  poured  on  her 
head  (p.  58) :  she  is  fed  with  the  milk  of  a  white,  red-eared  cow 
(ibid.) :  a  fiery  pillar  rises  from  her  head  (p.  66) :  sun-rays  support 
her  wet  cloak  (p.  82) :  she  remains  a  virgin  (p.  64) :  and  she  was 
one  of  the  two  mothersf  of  Christ  the  Anointed.    So  far  the  homi- 

*  See  Jacob  Grimm's  Deutsche  Mythologie,  2te  aufl.  5. 

f  The  other,  of  course,  was  Mary.  That  Agni  the  butterbacked  (ghrita- 
p?-ish£ha),  the  son  of  Bhrigu,  is  called  dvimatri  '  having  two  mothers'  ('  so  wird 
das  feuer  als  aus  den  zwei  reibholzern  entsprossen  genannt,'  Grassmann)  is 
doubtless  only  an  accidental  coincidence.  The  Irish  texts  bearing  on  this  curious 
subject  are :  Ba  oenmathair  maic  rig  mair  .i.  ba  hoen  de  matribus  Christi 
Brigit,  Broccan's  hymn,  1.  63.  in  mathair  fsu,  Ultan's  hymn  to  Brigit,  6.  ise  a 
mac  fsu  Grist,  infra,  p.  84.  See  Todd,  Liler  Hymnorum,  p.  64. 


viii  Preface. 

ly.  She  had  a  perpetual  ashless  fire  (Giraldus  Cambrensis,  Topogr. 
Hib.  c.  34),  watched  by  twenty  nuns,  of  whom  herself  was  one 
(ibid.  c.  35),  blown  by  fans  or  bellows  only,  and  surrounded  by 
a  hedge  within  which  no  male  could  enter  (ibid.  c.  36). 

Besides  these  mythological  matters,  the  homily  here  and  there 
gives  glimpses  of  the  institutions  of  ancient  Ireland,  such  as  con 
cubinage  (p.  52):  dowry  (ibid.):  purchase  and  sale  of  slaves  (pp. 
52,  54,  64):  wizardry  (p.  54):  mulcts  (p.  58). 

The  existence  of  leprosy  in  Ireland  (pp.  68,  72,  74,  80) :  the 
practice  of  ale-brewing  (p.  67):  the  use  of  jewelry  (pp.  72,  78): 
the  employment  of  wattling  for  buildings  (p.  78),  are  also  illustrat 
ed  by  this  homily.  And  the  conversation  between  Brigit  and  King 
Dunlaing  (p.  72)  seems  to  preserve  an  authentic  utterance  of  an 
Irish  heathen  warrior. 

The  two  proverbs  gniad  each  a  aimsir  p.  70,  and  is  ri  cech 
slan  p.  72,  are  also  noteworthy. 

The  third  homily  is  on  the  text  Gen.  XII,  i,  and  deals 
with  the  life  of  St.  Columba.  A  few  passages  from  it  have  been 
printed  with  translations  in  Dean  Reeves'  edition  of  Adamnan's 
biography  of  that  heroic  athleta  Christi,  The  pathetic  account  of 
the  saint's  death,  pp.  120 — 124,  is  a  good  specimen  of  Middle 
Irish  prose,  and  some  Irish  superstitions  are  illustrated :  thus,  the 
spaeman  scanning  the  sky,  p.  102,  which  seems  some  kind  of 
divination  by  means  of  clouds  or  stars :  the  strange  account  of 
Odran's  self-sacrifice,  p.  119,  an  example  of  the  universal  belief 
in  the  efficacy  of  a  victim  to  secure  the  stability  of  a  building ; 
and  the  common  superstition  of  the  watersnake,  p.  119. 

As  to  the  text  of  these  homilies,  the  language  is  Middle 
Irish — with  all  the  corruptions*  found  in  compositions  of  the 
twelfth  to  the  fifteenth  centuries.  But  the  author  has  obviously 
often  drawn  from  older  and  purer  sources.  This  is  clear  from  his 
frequent  use  of  the  infixed  pronouns,  and  from  the  many  Old  and 

*  Of  these,  the  chief  are,  confusion  of  a  and  u  in  inlaut ;  confusion  of  e 
and  f,  of  a  and  u  in  auslaut ;  final  a  for  ae,  ai  and  e  in  auslaut,  ae  for  oe  ; 
confusion  of  infected  d  and  g  ;  assimilation  of  the  dental  in  the  groups  Id,  In  ; 
sinking  of  c  and  t  to  g-  and  d  (tancadar  58)  ;  prosthesis  of  f  (ro  f-ucc  16)  : 
metathesis  of  cs  and  ts.  In  the  article,  use  of  na  for  the  nom.  pi.  masc.  (na 
lestair  6)  and  disuse  of  the  neuter  forms  in  the  singular.  In  the  adjective,  use 
of  the  fem.  form  in  the  nom.  pi.  m.  In  the  verb,  encroachment  of  s-forms  on 
reduplicated  preterites  (rucsat  10)  and  t-preterites  (atbertsat  16):  the  consuetudi- 
nal  forms  in  -ann  :  the  pret.  pass,  in  -at,  -et,  (roscribat  42,  romcraidet),  -it 
(robaitsit  42)  :  the  use  of  absolute  instead  of  subjoined  forms  :  the  disuse  of 
infixed  pronouns  and  of  infixed  verbal  particles. 


Preface.  ix 

Early  Middle  Irish  verbal  forms  which  he  employs.     It  may  be 
well  to  collect  some  of  these — 

Infixed  Pronouns. 

Sg.  i:  ni-m-tha  12,  ru-m-craidet  36,  co-r-um-digtider  36, 
no-m-tadbanar  80. 

Sg.  2:  ro-t-fcc  12,  no-t-leicc  24,  ro-t-bia  28,  44,  ni-t-ge'tsa 
64,  no-t-airmitnigfe,  no-t-carfa,  no-t-aigthife  76.  In  do-t-berar 
'  thou  art  borne'  64,  we  have  an  example  of  the  passive  impersonal 
flexion,  in  the  2d  singular,  of  which  Zeuss,  G.  C.2  482  gives  no 
examples.* 

Sg.  3 :  con-as-ebi  8,  co-r-as-ebatar  8,  cu-r-as-toraind  34, 
co-r-as-naisc  12,  con-as-tall  64,  con-us-bennach  40,  con-us-frecc- 
rad  72,  ro-s-esreid  4,  ni-s-baithed  112,  do-s-rat  6,  ro-s-icc  6, 
ro-s-airig  6,  ro-s-bennach  8,  do-s-gni  8,  ro-s-glan  10,  ro-s-maith 
10,  co-ro-s-aicilled  16,  do-m-bert  64,  ro-t-cairig  6,  ro-t-guidestar 
38,  no-tm-benand  118.  Probably  friscerut  18,  stands  for  fris-d- 
gerat. 

PI.  i.     ro-n-faid  22,  ro-n-be  63. 

PI.  3.  con-us-leic  6,  no-s-baist  32,  ro-s-bennach  32,  ro-n- 
baist  32,  no-s-baidet  36,  ro-s-icc  74. 

Pronouns  suffixed  to   Verbs. 
tet-e  34,  dochuaid-si  63,  dober-si  63,  atbert-si  70. 
Verbal  Forms. 

Preterite  3d  sg.  in  -ai,  -a :  dernai  44  =  derna  36,  56,  72,  76, 
108,  rolabra  84,  robennachai  (?)  30. 

These  forms,  like  nat-labrai  F£l.  Dec.  22,  (W.  llafarodd},  frism- 
bruchtai,  Fel.  Nov.  30,  ropritchai,  Egerton  93,  p.  3  a  i,  rolassai, 
Corm.  B.  s.  v.  gaire,  rothinai,  Rawl.  B.  512,  p.  7  b  i,  ro-d-scrfbai, 
Goid.  106  (^N.ysgrifodd),  adcobra,  Fiacc  28,  45,  agree  with  Welsh 
forms  in  -awdZ.  925  now  -odd;\  and  I  take  them  to  have  been 
originally  imperfects  in  -ayat  corresponding  with  Lithuanian  forms 
in  -o/o,  Sanskrit  in  -ayat,  Bopp  Vergl.  Gram.  II,  396.  The  abnor 
mal  forms  in  -tai,  -ta,  of  which  some  are  cited  by  Zeuss,  G.  C.2 
456,  were  likewise  probably  imperfects. 

Reduplicated  Preterite.  Sg.  i  :  atconnarc  68,  itconnarc  68, 
itchonnarc-sa  60  (root  dark,  Skr.  darq),  ba-sa  12  (root  bu,  Skr. 

*  Other  examples  are  con-dat-oscaigther  (gl.  commonere)  Ml.  23d,  mad 
no-t-fergaither  fria  gilla,  LB.  lob. 

f  Here  </,  as  often,  has  arisen  from  y.  See  Rhys,  Revue  Ccltique,  II,  109  ; 
III,  87. 


x  Preface. 

bhu) :  dulhracur-sa  27,  if  miswritten  for  duthracar-sa,  is  an  exam 
ple  of  the  deponential  form.  Sg.  2  :  dorochar  22  (root  kar,  Skr. 
<?ar),  ro-m-ba  32.  Sg.  3  :  acca  14,  58  (root  kas),  conacca  14,  20, 
atconnairc,  itconnairc  2,  60,  atacomnaic  4,  ro-s-cuala  18,  atchuala 
14,  itchuala  12  (root  klu  Skr.  ^ru),  dochiiaid  14  (root  kud,  Skr. 
cud),  dor[o]ega  106  (root  gus),  dorochair  74,  dor[o]chuir  8,  tor- 
chair  20,  24,  74,  at-ro-chair  24,  cor-ri-muid  6  =  cor-re-muid  36, 
1 08  (root  mat,  Skr.  math),  t-anic  14  (root  ank),  ro-iarfaig  68  (root 
vak),  do-attaig  72  (root  tak),  boi,  ro-boi,  4,  bai  74,  ro-fo-dail  62, 
ro-s-cum-taig  34  (root  stag),  att-ib  24  (root  pa).  Deponential : 
genair,  ge*nir  4,  56  (root  gan),  coemnacair  68  (root  nank),  for- 
coemnacair  34.  Plural  i  :  t-ancumar  64  PL  3  :  acutar  62,  itchon- 
catar  62,  itconcatar  56,  122  (O.  Ir.  at-chonacatar),  cualatar  38,  102, 
ebatar  8,  docotar  34,  dochuatar  78,  80,  atchotar  34  ==  itchuatar 
60,  fo-rai-langatar  82,  r-ancatar  6,  22,  t-ancotar  8,  batar  112, 
ro-batar  2. 

Reduplicated  Future.  Sg.  i  :  ni  geb-sa  14,  atber-sa  22,  dingen 
26,  doge"n  40,  68,  dogen-sa  62,  ni  rag  36,  ni-t-get-sa  64.  Absolute 
form:  berut-sa  100,  regut  52.  Sg.  2  :  raga  12,  atbera  62,  do-s- 
b£rai  64,  com-bera-su  100,  getai  64.  Sg.  3:  dobeVa  22,  62,66, 
do-s-bera  12,  atbera  22,  eberai  40,  no-s-faiceba  120  (root  gab), 
doraga  62,  98,  100.  Absolute  form :  beraid  54,  gebid  94.  Rela 
tive  form:  gebus  qui  capiet  32,  gebus  qui  cantabit  38,  gignes  32. 
Plural  i  :  dogenum-ne  26,  taircebum-ne  70.  PL  2  :  fogebthai  80 
(where  an  absolute  is  wrongly  used  for  a  subjoined  form).  PL  3  : 
friscerut  (=  fris-d-gerat  ?)  18.  Passive:  doberthar  28,  dobertar 
38,  tiberthar  118. 

Reduplicated  Secondary  Future.  Sg.  i  :  rofogenaind*  70.  Sg. 
3  :  noragad  18,  tomelad  70.  3d  sg.  passive  :  no-tusemtha  56. 

T-preterite.  Sg.  i  :  do-r-arngert-sa  38.  Sg.  3  :  40.  roiarfacht 
54,  r-iarfacht  52,  56,  eracht,  erracht  24,  atracht  8,  deracht  118, 
toracht  16,  20,  roacht  70,  daruacht  14,  dorocht  34,  ro-siacht  22, 
32,  arroet  84  (  =  ar-ro-fo-em-t),  roforcongart  16,  dorogart  56, 
do-r-arngert  40,  98,  r<5edbairt  104,  epert  2,  atbert  8,  atrubairt  20, 
28,  erbairt  94,  98,  erbailt  16,  epilt  92,  doromailt  102,  atbath  6, 
luid  30,  1 08,  dolluid  98,  doluid  122.  PL  3  :  lotar  58. 

T-futures  are  apparently  canta  no,  bidat  54,  80.  But  these 
forms  are  very  obscure.  In  scerdait  (leg.  scerdait),  1 10,  we  seem 
to  have  a  mixture  of  reduplicated  and  t-  forms :  in  genfedit  28, 
a  mixture  of  b-  and  t-  forms. 

*  Here  and  elsewhere  in  this  page  I  have  supplied  the  mark  of  length 
which,  owing  to  the  scribe's  carelessness,  is  wanting  in  the  manuscript. 


Preface.  xi 

S-future.  Sg.  i  :  atfessar  (leg.  adfesur?*)  42.  Sg.  2  :  dechais 
44  (3d  sg.  pret.  dechaid  16,  root  KAD,  Skr.  cad,  Lat.  cadere). 
Sg.  3:  forbia  18  (=  farfia  Ml.  550).  tii  28,  ti  38,  62,  tair  8,  66. 
PI.  i  :  roissam  46,  risam  124,  fessamar  24.  Passive  sg.  3:  essair 
1 20. 

Reduplicated  S-future.     Sg.  i  :  do-bibus-sa  52. 

Secondary  S-futtire.  Sg.  2  :  tista-su  14.  Sg.  3  :  ti'sed  58,  tisad, 
roissed  74. 

Forms  which  appear  to  be  corruptions  are  fortachtfuidea  42, 
foillsigfides  100,  ropsam  120. 


In  printing  the  text  I  have  extended  the  contractions,  always 
representing  the  extensions  by  italics.  In  a  very  few  instances,  I 
have  corrected  an  obvious  blunder  of  the  scribe,  giving,  however, 
in  a  footnote  the  reading  of  the  manuscript.  The  proclitics  (the 
article,  possessive  and  relative  pronouns,  verbal  particles,  verb 
substantive  when  used  as  a  copula,  prepositions,  certain  conjunc 
tions,  negative  particles,  and  the  interjection  a)  have  been  printed 
as  they  are  written  in  the  manuscript,  viz.,  as  part  of  the  word  to 
which  they  respectively  belong.  The  same  course  has  been  fol 
lowed  as  regards  the  pronominal  enclitics  -sa,  -su,  -sin,  -side,  -som, 
(-sium),  -so,  (-seo).  The  dotted  f  and  the  digraph  fh  represent 
not  only  infected  or  (as  native  grammarians  say)  aspirated,  f,  but 
also  f  changed  in  pronunciation  to  v,  owing  to  the  influence  of  a 
preceding  nasal. 


Lastly,  I  have  to  say  a  few  words  as  to  the  translations.  That 
of  the  homily  on  Patrick  is  founded  on  a  manuscript  version  by  the 
late  Dr.  O'Donovan,  lent  me,  many  years  ago,  either  by  Dr.  Todd 
or  Dr.  Reeves.  It  obviously  never  received  O'Donovan's  final 
revision.  Thus  dorchataid,  p.  4,  is  misrendered  by  '  servitude' : 
clarenech,  p.  6,  by  '  cripple/  buan  bann,  p.  1 8,  by  '  for  ever,'  berrtha, 
p.  20,  by  'fat,'  aes  gradai,  p.  22,  by  '  servants  of  trust/  abraf,  p.  24, 
by  '  I  will  say/  erlund,  p.  32,  by  '  top^ancnde,  p.  34,  by  'enmity/ 
7  rocumtaigtea  ocpatraic  ifoss,  p.  36,  by  'and  Patrick  erected  here 
in  Ireland.'  Hitagar  dul,  p.  36,  by  'There  went/  deoraid,p.  40, 
by  'kingship/  atfessar  duib  mmo,  p.  42,  by  'ye  know  the  man/ 
fri  fomtin,  p.  42,  '  to  evade.'  I  cite  these  errors,  not  with  any  base 
delight  in  picking  holes  in  the  unfinished  work  of  a  great  scholar, 

*  Perhaps  from  adfiadaimm  refcro,  not  atfetar  as  I  have  said  in  the  Index 
of  Words,  p.  142  infra. 


xii  Preface. 

but  simply  to  excuse  myself  for  not  printing  O'Donovan's  version 
precisely  as  it  left  his  hands. 

The  translation  of  the  homily  on  Brigit  is  wholly  by  myself, 
and  those  who  have  (what  I  have  not)  access  to  Cogitosus'  life 
of  that  saint*  will  doubtless  find  much  to  correct  therein. 

The  translation  of  the  homily  on  St.  Columba  is  founded  on 
a  manuscript  version,  either  by  O'Donovan  or  the  late  Mr.  Curry. 
I  suspect  it  was  made  by  the  latter,  as  it  contains  a  note  with  his 
initials  ('  E.  C.')  on  the  expression  coer  comraicc,  p.  96.  This  ver 
sion  required  much  amendment.  For  instance,  arrachf,  p.  92,  is 
misrendered  by  '  monsters' :  an  ben  imtha  sin,  p.  100,  by  '  a  woman 
that  envied  her':_/h'<z  muir  anair,  p.  102,  by  '  by  the  sea  on  the 
east,'  iarmergt,  pp.  106,  124,  by  'matins':  clere  fila  for  a  lar 
canta  molta  maic  thigirnd,  p.  no,  by  '  clerics  and  poets  within  its 
centre  shall  sing  laudations  to  noble  chiefs' :  brodirne,  p.  114,  by 
'shred':  dia  rechullsom,  p.  120,  by  '  of  his  episcopal  vestments' : 
methil,  p.  120,  by  'workmen':  no  cosmad,  124,  by  'he  blessed.' 

Of  all  three  homilies  it  may  be  said  that  the  fragments  of 
verse  which  they  contain  are  often  corrupt,  and  that  the  transla 
tion  of  those  fragments  is,  therefore,  to  some  extent  conjectural. 
Compare,  for  instance,  the  verses  in  p.  1 8  infra  with  the  reading 
in  Egerton  93,  p.  2  b.  2  : 

Bendacht  de  for  dichuin  dorat  damsa  in  saball. 

rombi  esum  dar  he"issi.  nemthech  ngleisi  nglanoll. 

Bendacht  d£  for  dichuin  dichu  co  lin  cro. 

ni  baisfer  nach  buan  bann  clann  na  ciniud  d6. 
And  the  verses  in  p.  36  infra  with  the  reading  in  Rawl.  B.  512, 
p.  13  b.  2  : 

Attagar  techt  hi  cruaich  cruind  druing  cen  crabz^/  armocinn. 

romgab  ecla  fri  s£t  sell  deich  c//  cenn  ic  tacra  frim. 
Several  errors  which  I  discovered  after  the  sheets  had  been  worked 
off,  are  set  right  in  the  Corrections  and  Additions,  pp.  138 — 140, 
infra,  to  which  I  beg  the  particular  attention  of  the  few  scholars 
who  will  care  to  read  this  book. 

February  2%th,  1877.  W.  S. 

*   Printed   in  the  Acta  Sanctorum   at  Febr.  i,  in  Colgan's  Triadis  Thau  ma- 
lurgqe  ...  Acta,  Lovanii,  1647,  and  probably  elsewhere. 


I. 

BETHA   PHATRAIC. 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  PATRICK. 


xii  Preface. 

but  simply  to  excuse  myself  for  not  printing  O'Donovan's  version 
precisely  as  it  left  his  hands. 

The  translation  of  the  homily  on  Brigit  is  wholly  by  myself, 
and  those  who  have  (what  I  have  not)  access  to  Cogitosus'  life 
of  that  saint*  will  doubtless  find  much  to  correct  therein. 

The  translation  of  the  homily  on  St.  Columba  is  founded  on 
a  manuscript  version,  either  by  O'Donovan  or  the  late  Mr.  Curry. 
I  suspect  it  was  made  by  the  latter,  as  it  contains  a  note  with  his 
initials  ('  E.  C.')  on  the  expression  coer  comraicc,  p.  96.  This  ver 
sion  required  much  amendment.  For  instance,  arrachf,  p.  92,  is 
misrendered  by  '  monsters' :  an  ben  imtha  sin,  p.  100,  by  '  a  woman 
that  envied  her':_/ra  muir  anair,  p.  102,  by  'by  the  sea  on  the 
east,'  iarmergi,  pp.  106,  124,  by  'matins':  clere  fila  for  a  lar 
canta  molta  maic  thigirnd,  p.  no,  by  '  clerics  and  poets  within  its 
centre  shall  sing  laudations  to  noble  chiefs' :  brodirne,  p.  114,  by 
'shred':  dia  rechulhom,  p.  120,  by  '  of  his  episcopal  vestments' : 
methil,  p.  120,  by  'workmen':  no  cusmad,  124,  by  'he  blessed.' 

Of  all  three  homilies  it  may  be  said  that  the  fragments  of 
verse  which  they  contain  are  often  corrupt,  and  that  the  transla 
tion  of  those  fragments  is,  therefore,  to  some  extent  conjectural. 
Compare,  for  instance,  the  verses  in  p.  1 8  infra  with  the  reading 
in  Egerton  93,  p.  2  b.  2  : 

Bendacht  d6  for  dfchuin  dorat  damsa  in  saball. 

rombi  esum  dar  he'issi.  nemthech  ngleisi  nglanoll. 

Bendacht  d£  for  dichuin  dichu  co  lin  cro. 

ni  baisfer  nach  buan  bann  clann  na  ciniud  do. 
And  the  verses  in  p.  36  infra  with  the  reading  in  Rawl.  B.  512, 
p.  13  b.  2  : 

Atta"gar  techt  hi  cruaich  cruind  druing  cen  crabw^  armocinn. 

romgab  ecla  fri  set  sell  deich  cet  cenn  ic  tacra  frim. 
Several  errors  which  I  discovered  after  the  sheets  had  been  worked 
off,  are  set  right  in  the  Corrections  and  Additions,  pp.  138—140, 
infra,  to  which  I  beg  the  particular  attention  of  the  few  scholars 
who  will  care  to  read  this  book. 

February  2%th,  1877.  -yy    g 


*  Printed   in  the  Ada  Sanctorum   at  Febr.  i,  in  Colgan's  Tnadis  Thau  ma- 
tvrgqe  ...  Acta,  Lovanii,  1647,  and  probably  elsewhere. 


I. 

BETHA   PHATRAIC. 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  PATRICK, 


[BETHA  PHATRAIC  INCIPIT.] 

Lebar  Brecc  p.  24,b  //.  I — 29. 


[Pjopulus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris  uidit  lucem  magnam.  INpo- 
pul  deisicf  indorchuib  afrwmaircc  sollsi  moir.  Et  sedentibus  in 
regione  et  in  umbra  mortis  lux  orta  est  eis.  INf*oirenn  robatar 
hiferund  7  ifhoscad  bais.  fuaratar  sollsi  diatanic  aninorchugud. 

INspir«/  noem  inspire/ isuaisliu  inas  cech  spirw/.  inspire/  dorm- 
fid  indeclas  cechtarda  fetarlacthi  7  nuafiad#tfz«re  o  rath  ecna  7  fatsine. 
ise  inspire/  sin  roraid  na  briaMrasin  trz'agin  inpnmfatha  ysaias  mzc 
amois.  De  cuius  laude  dicitur  quod  non  tarn  dicendus  esset  pro- 
pheta  quam  euangelista.  IS  diamoladside  atfv/t  cirine  noem.  conid 
c6ra  suiscelaig  dorada  fr/'ss  andas  faitfi.  arafollsi  7  araimchuibdhe 
fnanufiadw^z'je  roindis  scela  crw/.  ITa  enim  uniuersa  christi 
ecclesieque  misteria  ad  lucidum  prosecutus  est  ut  non  eum  putes 
de  future  uaticinari  sed  de  [prae]terito  historian!  texere.  Arroboi 
dia  follsi  roindis  uli  mine  cm/  7  naheckri  noime.  connabud  doig 
lanech  combad  taircetul  raet  todocha^  itzr  dogneth.  acht  aisnes 
raet  reimtechtach  chena  iarfbrpthiugud  angnima. 


Oen  \ra  diathairc^/laib  fdllsib  ani  atfiadar  sund  tm  aiswj  sech- 
madataz'. 

'  Populus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris  uidit  1.  m.  INpopul  dessid 
indorchuib  ifcwmairc  sollsi  mair.  ise  immurro  leth  atoibe  indais- 
neisea  lasinfaith  codii  indep^rt  remi  isinsceol  c//na.  Pnmo  tempore 
alleuatazabulonet  terra  neptalim.  Tanic  lahathniug^namsire.  gloir 
mor  7  inocbail  dothreb  zabuloin  7  dothreb  neptahiw.  inde  dicitur. 
conid  forslicht  nambria/^arsin  atberar.  Populus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris. 
INpopul  deisid  indorch^.  mad  iarstair  cipinnas.  pop*//  isra^l  [ise"] 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  PATRICK. 


Populus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris  vidit  lucem  magnam.  The  people 
that  sat  in  darkness  beheld  a  great  light.  Et  sedentibus  in  regione  et 
in  umbra  mortis  lux  orta  ets.  They  that  were  in  the  land  and  in 
the  shadow  of  death  found  a  light  whence  came  their  illumination. 

The  Holy  Spirit,  the  spirit  which  is  nobler  than  every  spirit, 
the  spirit  which  inspired  both  churches  of  the  Old  Law  and  of  the 
New  Testament  with  the  grace  of  wisdom  and  prophecy,  it  was 
that  spirit  which  spake  those  words  through  the  mouth  of  the 
chief  prophet  Isaiah  son  of  Amoz  ;  de  cujus  laude  dicitur  quod 
non  tam  dicendus  esset  propheta  quam  evangelista.  -To  praise  him, 
St.  Jerome  said  that  it  were  meeter  to  call  him  an  evangelist  than 
a  prophet,  because  of  the  clearness  and  the  fitness  for  the  New 
Testament  wherewith  he  told  the  tidings  of  Christ.  I/a  enim  uni- 
versa  Christi  ecclesiaeque  mysteria  ad  lucidum  prosecutus  est  ut  non  eum 
putes  defuturo  vaticinari  sed  de  praeterito  historiam  texere.  For  such 
was  the  clearness  wherewith  he  told  all  the  mysteries  of  Christ 
and  the  Holy  Church  that  one  would  not  think  that  it  was  a  pro 
phecy  of  things  to  come  he  was  making,  but  a  declaration  of 
things  already  foregone  after  they  had  been  done  completely. 

Now  one  of  his  manifest  prophecies  is  what  is  here  set  forth 
through  a  narrative  of  what  is  past. 

Populus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris  vidit  lucem  magnam.  The  people 
that  sat  in  darkness  beheld  a  great  light.  Now  the  prophet  has  a 
parallel  passage  as  far  as  the  place  where  previously  in  the 
same  story  he  said  primo  tempore  allevata  terra  Zabulon  et  terra  Nep- 
talim,  there  came  with  ....  of  time,  great  glory  and  renown  to  the 
tribe  of  Zabulon  and  to  the  tribe  of  Naphtali.  Inde  dicitur,  after 
these,  words  he  said,  Populus  qui  sedebat  in  tenebris.  The  people  who 
sat  in  darkness  if  [we  go]  according  .to  history,  this  was  the  people 


4          Betha  Phatralc,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  24 b,  //.  30-63. 

sin  robdi  indorchataid  nadaire  lahasardu.  afewmairc  sdllsi  athaith- 
creca  dondairesin  .i.  hestras  7  nemias  iosuae  7  zorobel.  mad  iarsians 
tra  ise  sin  popw/  atb^rar  sund.  popw/  nang^nti  roboi  indorchataid 
aneolais  ocddrad  hidal  7  arracht.  c&n  coroartraig  infirsdllsi  .i.  isu 
cm/  <r0«[a]asp0/u.  Nox  enim  erat  in  mundo  usque  dum  christus  qui 
sol  iustitie  est  radios  suos  aspersit  in  mundum.  Uair  b<5i  dorchotu 
mdr  7  temel  darchroidib  nang/nti.  ce"in  coroscdil  gn'an  nafirinde.  isu 
cm/,  aruthni  fd  cetlwraird  indomain  diainsorchugud. 


Oen  \.ra  donaruthnib  rosesreid  gnan  nafirinde  isindomun  .i. 
inruithen  7  inlassar  7  inlia  Idgmar  7  inlocharnd  loinderdai  roin- 
sorchaig  iarthar  in  betha1  .i.  sanctus  patricius  episcopus  .i.  Noem- 
pdtm/'c  ardepsft?/  iarth^/r  betha.1  athat'r  baitsi  7  cretmi  fer 


ISand  tra  innister  7  atfiadar  ni  da  fertaib  7  diamirbulib 
donatusmidib 2  ongenir.  7  diabunad  thalm««da  intfi  noempatraic 
ineckjib  na  cm/aide3  .i.  x.  ui.  kl.  apreil  arai  lathi  mis  graie  insin 
7rL 

Patraic  din.  do  bretnaib  ailcluaide4  acenel.  Calpruind  ainmm 
aatruzr.  uasalsacart  esside.  O'tid  ainm  asenathar.  deochain  ata- 
cdmnacside.  C<?«chess  immurro  ainm  amaMar.  ingen  ochbais  do 
francuib  acenel  .i.  smr  do  martain5  hf, 

Patraic  tra  mac  calpruind  m^  otide  rm'c  ddissi  irnc  gorniuth 
mic  lub^wiuth  mic  mercuit  mi'c  otta  im'c  muric  mic  oricc  mic  leo 
mtc  maxim  mic  ecreti  mic  eresi  mtc  felesti  mz'c  ferine  mic  britti. 
diatatt  bretnaig. 

Bat^r  .u.  sethracha  acca  .i.  lupait.  7  tigris.  7  darercca  ocus 
liamain.  7  richell. 

INnemthur  tra  rogenir.  7  inlecc  forsangenair  .i.  cech  oen 
dogni  luga  neithig  fothi  dofuissim  usce  ama/  bid  occained  ingu- 
fhdrcill  dobeth.  Madfir  aluga  tairisid  inchloch  in[a]aicniud  choir. 


1  Ms.  bethad.  2  Ms.  tusmigib.  3  Ms.  cmfaige. 

*  Ail  Cluaide  lit.   '  rock  of  Cluad'    (now  Clyde)  ==  cloda,  hlutr,  lauter. 
5  S.  Martin  of   Tours  is  meant. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 


of  Israel  who  were  brought  into  the  gloom  of  slavery  by  the 
Assyrians.  They  beheld  the  light  of  their  redemption  from  that 
captivity,  to  wit,  Hesdras  and  Nehemias,  Jeshua  and  Zembbabel. 
But  if  [we  go]  according  to  the  spiritual  sense,  the  people  men 
tioned  here  are  the  people  of  the  gentiles  who  were  in  the  darkness 
of  ignorance,  adoring  idols  and  images  until  the  true  Light  arose, 
to  wit,  Jesus  Christ  with  his  apostles.  Nox  enim  erat  in  mundo  usque 
dum  Christus,  qui  soljustitia  est,  radios  suos  aspersit  in  mundum.  For 
there  was  great  darkness  and  dimness  over  the  hearts  of  the  heathen 
until  the  Sun  of  righteousness,  Jesus  Christ,  scattered  his  splen 
dors  throughout  the  four  quarters  of  the  world  to  enlighten  it. 

Now  one  of  the  splendors  which  the  Sun  of  righteousness 
shed  upon  the  world  was  the  splendor,  and  the  flame,  the  pre 
cious  stone  and  shining  lamp  which  enlightened  the  west  of  the 
world,  Sanctus  Patricius  Episcopus,  to  wit,  holy  Patrick,  high 
bishop  of  the  west  of  the  world,  father  of  the  baptism  and  belief 
of  the  men  of  Ireland. 

Now  the  day  whereon  they  tell  and  set  forth,  in  the  churches 
of  the  Christians,  somewhat  of  his  miracles  and  marvels,  and  of  the 
parents  of  whom  he  was  born,  and  of  the  earthly  stock  of  the 
holy  Patrick,  is  the  sixteenth  of  the  Kalends  of  April  as  to  the  day 
of  the  solar  month. 

Now  Patrick's  race  was  of  the  Britons  of  Dumbarton.  Cal- 
purn  was  his  father's  name,  a  high  priest  was  he.  Otid  (Potitus) 
was  the  name  of  his  grandfather :  he  was  a  deacon.  But  Con- 
chess  was  his  mother's  name :  daughter  was  she  of  Ochbas :  of 
France  was  her  race,  that  is,  she  was  a  sister  of  Martin's. 

Patrick,  then,  (was)  son  of  Calpurn,  son  of  Otid,  son  of 
Odisse,  son  of  Gorniuth,  son  of  Lubeniuth,  son  of  Mercut,  son  of 
Otta,  son  of  Muric,  son  of  Oricc,  son  of  Leo,  son  of  Maximus, 
son  of  Ecretus,  son  of  Eresus,  son  of  Felestus,  son  of  Ferinus,  son 
of  Brittus,  from  whom  are  the  Britons.1 

He  had  five  sisters,  namely,  Lupait  and  Tigris  and  Darerca 
and  Liamain  and  Richell. 

At  Nemthur,  now,  was  he  born,  and  (as  to)  the  flagstone  on 
which  he  was  born,  when  any  one  commits  perjury  thereunder, 
it  sheds  water  as  if  it  were  bewailing  the  false  declaration.  If  the 
oath  is  true  the  stone  abides  in  its  proper  nature. 

1  See  Flann  Manistrech's  version  of  this  legendary  pedigree  in  the  Four 
Masters,  A.  D.  432. 


Bet  ha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Erecc,  p. 


Orogenir  immurro  intn  noem  patrazh  ise  leth  ruccad  diabaitsed 
cusmmac  dall  clarenech.  gormas  aainmsium.  acht  nirabi  usce  acca 
asand/rnad  inbathis.  Cotarut  airdhi  na  crochi  dolaim  na  ndiden 
darsintalrmwz.  corrfmaid  topur  usci  ass.  Dosrat  gornias  inus^? 
foagnuis  [p.25a]  feisin.  7  rosicc  foc/$//oir.  7  rothuicestar  nalittrz' 
c6in  co  facctf  iat  remi  riam.  Dorigne  dia  tra  firt  tredai  sund 
fochetoii  arpaVtfz'c  .i.  intopur  usci  asintalmain  7  arose  donm^c  dall. 
7  eolas  arlegind  do  urd  na  baiste  cenaichne  na  litter  remi  riam. 
Robaitsed  din.  patraic  iarsin. 


Roalt  tra  intn  noempatra/<r  innemtur  combagilla.  7  islia  turim 
7  aisnds  arand<?rna  incoimdiu  fair  dofertaib  7  mirbulib  ina  noiden- 
&acht  7  inagilla(cht).  arboi  rath  de  inachomaitecht  incer/^ais.  ocus 
incer^ni  dognid.  acht  aisnedfimne  uati  dohilib  dib. 


Fecht  and  dolluid  tdla  usa  isintech  ambdi  patraK  corusbmd 
intenid  uli.  7  combatar  nalestair  forsnam.  Luid  p&traic  iarsin 
coport  tirimm  boi  isintig.  corthiimm  a  .u.  mera  isin  usce.  7  roptar 
(5ible  tened  na  .u.  banni  silset  estib.  corohadannad  inteni  sin 
isintig.  7  nirosartraig  intus^  foc/^#oir.  Romorad  ainm  de  7  ndem- 
pztrat'c  and  tmsinfhirtsin. 


Feet  aile  dosb^rt  pztraic  utlach  dobissib  digrid  conusleic  forlar 
ifiadw^e  amuime.  Bamou  rancwwar  aless  brosna  cnnaig  dun 
fortenid  ol  amumi.  <r^id  andsin  tuc  pdtraic  indigriud  forsintenid. 
7  dosrat  aandil  fdi.  7  Izssais  amal  cnnach.  Romorad  tra.  ainm 
de*  7  patr^Jr  desin. 


aile  dolluid  cu  allaid  corruc  chairig  leis  opatrazc  don 
tre'ot.  diamboi  oc  ingaire  choerech.  7  rotcairig  amumi  he  comdr 
foressbuid  nacoerech.  Diambdi  immurro  patraic  is[in]inud  c//na 
iarnabaruch  tanic  incu  allaztf.  corothaisselb  incairig  slain  inafiad- 
naise.  dr  nirbo  gndth  aissec  uad  ^nicesin.  Romorad  sanm  de 
ocus  pa/raic  insin. 


ele  dolluid  pdtraic  immaille  fnaaide   indail    mbretan 
Orancator  c/^inddil  atbath  in[t]aide  dodianbds.  orosairigtra  patrai'c 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 


Now  when  the  holy  Patrick  was  born,  he  was  brought  to 
be  baptized  to  the  blind  flat-faced  youth  named  Gornias.  But 
Gornias  had  not  water  wherewith  the  baptism  could  be  per 
formed,  so  with  the  infant's  hand  he  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross  over  the  earth,  .and  a  wellspring  of  water  brake  therefrom. 
Gornias  put  the  water  on  his  own  face,  and  it  healed  him  at  once, 
and  he  understood  the  letters  (of  the  alphabet),  though  he  had 
never  seen  them  before.  Now  here  at  one  time  God  wrought  a 
threefold  miracle  for  Patrick,  the  wellspring  of  water  from  the  earth, 
and  his  eyesight  to  a  blind  youth,  and  skill  in  reading  aloud  the 
order  of  baptism  without  knowing  the  letters  beforehand.  There 
after  Patrick  was  baptized. 

The  holy  Patrick  was  reared  at  Nemthur  until  he  was  a  lad ; 
and  it  were  overmuch  to  recount  and  declare  what  the  Lord 
wrought  for  him  of  miracles  and  marvels  in  his  childhood  and  in 
his  boyhood,  for  the  grace  of  God  accompanied  him  at  every  age 
and  in  every  thing  that  he  did.  But  we  will  relate  a  few  of  the 
many  of  them. 

Once  upon  a  time  came  a  flood  of  water  into  the  house 
wherein  was  Patrick,  and  quenched  all  the  fire,  and  the  vessels 
were  afloat.  Patrick  then  went  to  a  dry  place  which  was  in  the 
house  and  dipt  his  five  fingers  into  the  water,  and  the  five  drops 
which  trickled  from  them  became  sparks  of  fire,  and  that  fire 
was  kindled  in  the  house,  and  the  water  at  once  ceased  to  rise, 
and  God's  name  and  Saint  Patrick's  were  magnified  through  that 
miracle. 

At  another  time  Patrick  brought  a  lapful  of  pieces  of  ice  and 
left  them  on  the  floor  in  the  presence  of  his  fostermother.  "  We 
rather  need  a  faggot  of  withered  sticks  for  fire,"  said  his  foster- 
mother.  Then  Patrick  put  the  ice  upon  the  fire,  and  breathed 
under  it,  and  it  blazed  like  withered  sticks.  So  God's  name  and 
Patrick's  were  magnified  thereby. 

At  another  time  a  wolf  went  and  carried  off  a  sheep  of  the 
flock  from  Patrick  when  he  was  shepherding ;  and  his  fostermother 
rebuked  him  much  for  the  loss  of  the  sheep.  But  as  Patrick  was 
at  the  same  place  the  next  day,  the  wolf  came  and  shewed  the 
sheep  safe  before  him,  [which  thing  was  a  marvel]  for  up  to  that 
time  restitution  from  him  was  not  usual.  God's  name  and  Patrick's 
were  magnified  therein. 

At  another  time  Patrick  went  along  with  his  fosterfather  to  a 
meeting  of  the  Britons.  When  they  came  to  the  meeting  the 


8  Betha  Phatrak,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  25%  //.  32-64- 


Us  aaide.  attert  fnss.    Erig  7  tiagum  diartig.    htiicht  foc^'/oir 
intaide  aba's  labrethir  patraic. 


Techt  ba  dimdach  amumi  desium.  arnatabrad  mil  da  miltenaib 
ama/  doberiis  m«c  becca  inbaile  diamotf  rechuib.  Lmaid  p^raa: 
lestar  asinsruth  banessu  d<5.  7  rostowmach  inusce  corosoud  immil. 
7  tucc  diamumi  comboi  dochretraib  aicci  «miccad  ce^teidm  ecus 


J?echt  ann  atbath  mac  aroli  mnd  nochungnad  fnamumisium 
ocblegun  ab6.  Albert  tra  m«»/mi  pdfraic  tuc  latt  dom^c  isinairge 
indiu  f«».  [leg.  feib]  dob^rthea  cerA  lai  7  dordnad  amlaid.  Diam- 
bater  Ira  namna  ocblegun  7  inm^c  marb  forlar  nabuailed.  dobert 
amwwmi  lemn^/  do  pff/ra/r  .  7  atb^rt  fns  gair  chucat  thfer  cumtha 
cwasebi  cumaid  arsen  fritt.  Albert  pdfraic  tair  afhir  chumtha  con- 
w.$-ebem  cumaid.  7  atracht  fochetfh  mmac  abas  fn'gairm  pdtraic 
corasebator  cumaid  \a.rum  andi's. 


Jfecht  de  dopdfrat'c  7  diashiair  .i.  lupait  ocingaire  choerech. 
cotancotar  nahuain  cohopund  dochumm  zmdthar  ama/  babe's  ddib. 
Otro«nairc  pdtraic  7  asiur  innisin.  rorithset  codian  diaterpdd  nan- 
iian.  dorchuir  iningen  corasben  acend  fochloich  cumbacomfocus 
bds  di.  Tanic  patraic  chucci  cen  fuirech.  7  dorat  ardhe  nacrochi 
darsincrecht  corosla'naig1  cennach  gakr  de. 

fecht  and  luid  amwwmi  pdtraic  doblegan  bo.  \uidsium  do  hdl 
dige  \emr\achta.  Dastar  imon  mboin  isinbuale  .i.  demun  tanic 
innte  corw-miarb  .u.  bii  aile.  B6i  torsi  mor  f<?ramtt;;zmi  domandar 
nambd.  condepert  fr/sium  todw^cad  nambd.  Rodw^aig  iarsin  nabu 
7  hiccaid  inmboin  dasachtaig. 

fecht  e!e  f<7rorcongair  re^/aire  inn'g  formwwmi  patraic  glanad 
tellaig  inrigthige  inailccluade.  Tanic  ira  patraic  conzmummi  fors6t 
doglanad  intellaig.  Isannsin  tanic  intaingel  cvpatraic  condepert  friss. 
Dena  airnaigthe.  7  nibahecen  duitt  ingnfmsa.  Dosgni  ira  patraic 


Ms.  coroslanaid. 


On  .the  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 


fosterfather  died. of  a  sudden  death.  But  when  Patrick  perceived 
his  fosterer's  death,  he  said  to  him,  "  Arise  and  let  us  go  to  our 
home."  Straightway  at  Patrick's  word  the  fosterfather  arose  from 
death. 

On  a  time  his  fostermother  was  unthankful  to  him  because  he 
brought  no  honey  from  the  combs  as  the  little  boys  of  the  hamlet 
were  wont  to  bring  to  their  mothers.  Patrick  fills  a  vessel  out  of 
the  stream  that  was  nearest  to  him,  and  he  blessed  the  water, 
and  it  was  turned  into  honey,  and  he  gave  it  to  his  fostermother, 
so  that  she  had  it  for  relics,  and  it  used  to  cure  every  disease  and 
every  illness. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  died  the  son  of  a  certain  woman, 
who  used  to  help  his  (Patrick's)  fostermother  in  milking  her  kine. 
So  the  fosteress  said  to  her  '  Bring  with  thee  thy  (dead)  son  into  the 
cowshed  this  day,  as  thou  wert  used  to  bring  him  every  day,'  and 
thus  was  it  done.  Now  as  the  women  were  milking,  and  the  dead 
child  on  the  floor  of  the  byre,  his  fosteress  gave  new  milk  to  Patrick, 
and  said  to  him  "  Call  to  thee  thy  comrade  that  he  as  well  as  thou 
may  drink  it."  Patrick  said  "  Come,  my  comrade,  that  we  may  drink 
it  together,"  and  at  Patrick's  call  the  boy  arose  at  once  from  death, 
and  then  they  both  drank  it  equally  together. 

At  another  time  as  Patrick  and  his  sister  Lupait  were  herding 
sheep,  the  lambs  came,  as  was  their  wont,  suddenly  to  their 
mothers.  When  Patrick  and  his  sister  saw  that,  they  ran  swiftly 
to  separate  the  lambs,  and  the  girl'fell  down,  and  her  head  struck 
against  a  stone,  so  that  death  was  near  her.  Patrick  came  to  her 
without  delay,  and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  wound  so 
that  he  healed  it  without  any  disease  therefrom. 

Once  upon  a  time  Patrick's  fostermother  went  to  milk  a  cow, 
and  he  went  to  drink  a  draught  of  new  milk.  The  cow  goes  mad 
in  the  byre.  A  devil  entered  into  her  so  that  she  killed  five  other 
kine.  Great  sadness  was  upon  his  fostermother  for  the  destruction 
of  the  kine,  and  she  told  him  to  bring  them  to  life.  Thereafter  he 
brought  the  (dead)  kine  to  life  and  the  mad  cow  he  cures. 

At  another  time  the  king's  steward  ordered  Patrick's  foster- 
mother  to  cleanse  the  hearth  of  the  palace  at  Dumbarton.  So 
Patrick  came  with  his  fostermother  on  the  way  to  cleanse  the  hearth. 
Then  the  angel  came  to  Patrick  and  said  to  him  "  make  prayer,  and 
this  work  will  not  be  needed  of  thee."  So  Patrick  prayed,  and  the 


io  Betha  Patraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  25a-25b. 

airnaigthe  7  rosglan  intaingel  intellach  in&dchesin.  Aiberi  pdtraic 
iarnabarach  cianoloiscthe  connud  brettan  uli  forsin  tellach  nabud 
£cen  aglanad  cobrdth.  amal  comaillter  sin  beos. 

[p.  25  b.]  Fecht  de  dolluid  re^/aire  inrig  dochunchid  gr^tha 
7  imme  comummi  pdtraic.  7  niroibe  ecci  ni  dob^rad  isincis.  conid 
annsin  dorigne  patraic  ingruth  7  innimm  donshnechta  corructha  uad 
donrig.  Orotaisselbad  ira  donrig  sin  roscdig1  inanaicned  f£n. 
Rosmaith  iarsin  inrig  incis  do  pdtraic  dogre's.  romorad  ira  ainm 
d^  7  patraic  triasinfhirtsin. 


Andorigne  ira  patraic  dofertaib  7  dadamruib  inanoidendor^/. 
isnatfrib  sin.  nihetir  fmnech  atuirem  naV^  anaisn^s. 


Isheseo  din.  tuirthmd  tidechta  "p&iraic  docum  nerenn.  uii.  m<?zc 
sechtmaid  .i.  uii.  meic  rig  bretan  batar  forlongais.  Doronsat 
orcuin  itir  mbfetan.  7  batar  ulaid  immalle  firm,  cotucsat  p&irai'c  leo 
himbroit  dochumm  nerenn.  7  adi  siair  .i.  tigris  7  lupart  conw^rensat 
pdtratc  friamiliucc  mac  hm  buain  .1.  fr/rig  dal  araide.  7  fhathriar 
mbrdthar.  7  rensat  adfshiair  uwzaille  miiirthemni.  7  nimafitir  doib. 
7  niconfitir  nech  dib  ciatir  inroreccad  aroile. 


Dofhognad  ira  pafraic  donrig  7  diatrmr  brdlhar.  conid  airesin 
tuccad  fair  innainm  iscothraige  .i.  mog  cethrair.  Batar  din2  .{iff. 
hanmand  fair  .i.  succait  aainmm  othwrtidib.3  cothraige  diamboi 
ocfognum  doncethrur.  magonius  (.i.  magis  agens)  aainm  icger- 
man.  pa/ricius  (.i.  pater  ciuium  .i.  athair  nacath^rda)  aainm 
ic[c]omorba  petair  (.i.  celis[tinus]). 

Otawnairc  ira  mfliucc  corbamog  iresach  pdfraic  rochennaig 
ontrmr  aile  corofhognad  dd  aoenur.  7  rofhogain  dd  cocend  secht 
mbli'adan  fob^s  nanebra^.  7  ised  roherbad  do  ingaire  mucc  indith- 
rebu4  slebi  miss. 

Ticced  immurro  uictor  aingel  dia  acallaim  7  diaforcetul  imchra- 

bud  dode"num  .i.  cet  slechtain  etch  Mithi  7  cet  etch  noidche  dognid. 

1  Ms.  roscaid.  2  The  facsimile  has  dit  3 

4  Over  the  d  is  a  dot. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  n 

angel  cleansed  the  hearth  that  night.  Patrick  said  on  the  morrow 
that  if  all  the  firewood  of  Britain  were  burnt  on  the  hearth,  it  need 
not  be  cleansed  till  Doom.  So  it  is  still  fulfilled. 

At  another  time  the  king's  steward  went  to  demand  curds  and 
butter  of  Patrick's  fostermother,  and  naught  had  she  which  she  could 
give  for  the  tribute.  Then  of  the  snow  Patrick  made  the  curds  and 
the  butter,  and  they  were  taken  from  him  to  the  king.  Now 
when  those  things  were  shewn  to  the  king,  they  changed  into  their 
own  nature.  After  that,  the  king  always  forgave  the  tribute  to 
Patrick,  so  God's  name  and  Patrick's  were  magnified  through  that 
miracle. 

But  the  number  of  miracles  and  of  wonders  which  Patrick 
in  his  childhood  wrought  in  those  lands,  it  is  not  possible  for  any 
one  to  enumerate  or  relate  them. 

Now  this  was  the  cause  of  Patrick's  coming  to  Ireland. 
Seven  sons  of  Sechtmad,  to  wit,  seven  sons  of  the  King  of 
Britain,  were  in  exile.  They  wrought  rapine  in  the  land  of  Britain, 
and  Ulstermen  were  along  with  them,  and  so  they  brought  Patrick 
in  captivity  to  Ireland,  and  his  two  sisters  Tigris  and  Lupait,  and 
they  sold  Patrick  to  Miliucc  maccu  Buain,  that  is,  to  the  King  of 
Dalaraide1,  and  to  his  three  brothers,  and  they  sold  his  two  sisters 
in  Conaille  Muirthemne,3  and  nothing  was  well  known  of  them, 
(that  is)  and  no  one  of  them  knew  into  what  land  another  was 
sold. 

Now  Patrick  served  the  king  and  his  three  brothers,  where 
fore  there  was  given  unto  him  the  name  of  Cothraige,  that  is,  the 
slave  of  four  persons.  Now  four  names  had  he,  to  wit,  Succet,  his 
name  from  his  parents  :  Cothraige,  when  he  served  the  four  per 
sons:  Magonius  (i.  e.  magi's  agens),  his  name  with  Germanus: 
Patricius  (that  is,  '  father  of  the  citizens')  his  name  with  Peter's 
successor,  Celestinus. 

Now  when  Miliucc  saw  that  Patrick  was  a  faithful  slave,  he 
bought  him  from  the  other  three  that  he  might  serve  him  alone. 
And  he  served  him  to  the  end  of  seven  years  after  the  custom  of 
the  Hebrews,  and  what  was  committed  unto  him  was  the  herding 
of  swine  in  the  wildernesses  of  Sliab  Mis.3 

Howbeit,  Victor  an  angel,  used  to  come  to  speak  unto  him, 
and  to  teach  him  as  to  performing  devotion,  that  is,  one  hun- 

1  A  territory  in  the  east  of  Ulster. 

2  A  level  country  in  the  present  county  of  Louth,  extending  from  the   river 
Boyne  to  the  mountains  of  Cuailgne,  or  Carlingford,  O'D. 

3  Now  Slemmish  in  the  county  of  Antrim. 


12  Betha  Phalraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  25' 


Oroboi  tra  patraic  .ufi.  mblizdna  oc  fognum  fobe*s  nane*braide. 
ztbert  intaingel  fn'ss  hifhis.  Bene  oras  7  bene  ieiunas  cito  iturus 
eris  ad  patriam  tuam  .i.  ismaith  dogni  ernaigthe.  ismaith  dogni 
aine.  raga  coluath  cotathardai  fodein. 

Rochomfocsig  tra  aimser  thuaslaicthe  pa/rate  addire  arno- 
chlechtatis  nag<?nti  saerad  amogad  ism  j^/mad  \Aiadain.  Ondim- 
raided  immurro1  miliucc  indus  noastfad  intii  patraic  rochendaig 
cumai'l  corw^naisc  dopatraic  hi.  Orocuirtha  hitech  foleth  aidche 
nabaindsi.  isandsin  prz'tchais  patrai'c  donchumail  corothochathitis 
innuli  naidche  ocernaigthe.  ISinmatain  iarnabaruch  at^wmairc 
patraic  ingelchrecht  hindreich  nacum«/7e.  7  roiarfaig2  di  fochann 
inchrechtai.  Albert  inchuma/.  intan  basa  innemthur  imbretnaib. 
darochdr  corw^ben  mochend  frzcloich  cwwba  focus  bas  dam.  Ot- 
connzirc  mobrdihair  .i.  succet  increcht.  dorat  ardhe  crochi  cm/ 
tairis  combahdgshlan  foc^?oir.  ISed  atbert  patraic  messi  f£a 
dobrathair.  7  isme  roticc.  gniset  insin  atlugud  dodia  7  tiagait 
isindithreb. 

Orobdi  tra  patraic  isindithr«3.  itchuala  guth  indaingil  atb^red 
friss.  ISfairithe  inlong  rowdecasu  innte  cohetail  dofogluim  na- 
screpttm.  Albert  patraic  nimtha  l(5g  do  (5r  domthig^rnai.  7  nichom- 
arlecfi  chena  dam.  Albert  intaingel  fhssium.  feith  intret  indiu 
7  atcierasu  torcc  icclaide  intalman.  7  dosb^ra  maiss  noir  ass  ocu£ 
tabair  dotchind  dottig<rna.  7  imthig  asintirsea  do  fogluim  ecnai: 
7  crabuid.  roscometsww  intorcc  7  fuair  inmaiss  do  or.  7  dosrat 
darachend  dathig^na  7  roscomairlec  alecud  uad  arbafailid  fnsino'r. 


Luid  pa/rate  iarsin  forfecA/.  7  fuair  luing  «wafoinnd  dog«?ntib. 
7  fuair  failte  accu.  7  rucsat  leo  h<§  darmuir.  BahaitAr^ch  tra  fria 
athigmia  .i.  fn  miliuc  alecud  ass.  Dochuaid  inadiaid  7  nitharraa/ 
he  7  niroscar  int(5r  iarsin. 

Roergab^/  din  hicreich  intii  patraic  fora  s«?  coraba  accu  fnre 
damis.  dosgni  pa/ra^  ernaigthi  7  roshasr  dia  he  coiocM  slan  coa- 
thwtidib.3  Roatachsat  athiwtide*  he  corothairis  accu  osin  amach 

1  Ms.  hautem.        *  Ms.  roiarfaid.        «  Ms.  thurtigib.        «  Ms.  athwrtige. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  13 

dred  genuflexions  every  day  and  a  hundred  every  night  he  used  to 
make. 

Now  when  Patrick  had  been  serving  seven  years,  after  the 
custom  of  the  Hebrews,  the  angel  said  to  him  in  a  vision  "  Bern 
oras  et  bene  jejunas,  cito  iturus  eris  ad  patriam  tuam"  that  is,  '  well 
thou  prayest,  well  thou  fastest,  quickly  shalt  thou  go  to  thine 
own  fatherland.' 

Now  the  time  of  Patrick's  release  from  bondage  drew  nigh, 
for  the  heathen  were  wont  to  free  their  slaves  in  the  seventh  yean 
As  Mfliucc  could  not  think  how  (else)  he  could  detain  Patrick,  he 
bought  a  bondmaid  and  wedded  her  to  Patrick.  On  the  bridalr 
night,  when  they  were  put  into  a  house  apart,  then  Patrick 
preached  to  the  bondmaid,  and  they  spent  the  whole  night  in 
prayer.  On  the  next  morning  Patrick  beheld  the  white  scar  on 
the  bondmaid's  face,  and  he  asked  of  her  the  cause  of  the  scar. 
Said  the  bondmaid,  "  when  I  was  in  Nemtur  in  Britain,  I  fell,  and 
my  head  struck  against  a  stone,  so  that  death  was  near  me.  When 
my  brother  Succet  beheld  the  wound,  he  made  the  sign  of 
Christ's  cross  over  it,  so  that  I  was  well  at  once."  Patrick  said 
this—"  I  myself  am  thy  brother,  and  I  am  he  that  healed  thee." 
They  then  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  go  into  the  wilderness. 

Now  when  Patrick  was  in  the  wilderness,  he  heard  the  voice 
of  the  angel,  saying  to  him,  "  Ready  is  the  ship  wherein  thou 
mayest  fare  to  Italy  to  learn  the  scriptures."  Said  Patrick,  "  I  have 
not  the  price  (of  my  ransom)  in  gold  for  my  lord,  and  without 
that  he  will  not  allow  me  (to  leave  him)."  The  angel  said  to  him, 
"Mind  thou  the  herd  to-day,  and  thou  wilt  see  a  boar  uprooting 
the  earth,  and  he  will  bring  a  mass  of  gold  thereout,  and  give  thou 
that  gold  to  thy  lord  for  thy  head,  and  fare  forth  from  this  land 
to  learn  wisdom  and  piety."  He  watched  the  boar  and  found  the 
mass  of  gold,  and  gave  it  for  his  head  to  his  lord,  who  consented 
to  let  him  go,  for  he  was  glad  at  the  gold. 

Patrick  then  went  on  (his)  way,  and  found  a  ship  with  her 
crew  of  heathen.  And  he  had  welcome  of  them,  and  they  took 
him  with  them  oversea.  His  master  Miliucc  was  sorry  for  letting 
him  leave.  He  went  after  him;  but  Patrick  tarried  not,  and 
Miliucc  loved  not  the  gold  thereafter. 

Then  Patrick  on  his  road  was  captured  in  a  foray,  and  he  was 
with  them  (the  reavers)  for  two  months.  Patrick  made  prayer,  and 
God  delivered  him,  so  that  he  came  safe  to  his  parents.  His  parents 


14  Bet  ha  Phatralc,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  25  b — 2,6*. 

dogr/s.  sed  tamen  tame  intaingel  chuice  inachotlud  conepistlib 
immdaib  leis  tnagoedeilg.  7  intan  b6isium  occanairlegend  atchuala 
gair  mor  dondidenu  ambronnaib  amaithrech  hicn'chaib  connacht. 
INmacradsin  [p.  26a.]  acaille  fochlad.  conidedso  aibertis.  ueni 
sancte  patrici  saluos  nos  facere. 

ISandsin  dochuaid  patraic  dofbgluim  ecna  7  cnzbuid  inoir- 
th^desaH  etaile  cog<?rman  escop.  7  tarrw^tar  accu  .xxx.  bliadan. 
ocfogluimm  nascreptra  noibe.  7  icacomalLz^/  cohumal  inisel.  ocus 
,xxx.  aile  aaes  intan  tanic  cog^rman  .xxx.  \Aiadan  do  icafoglaim 
,lx.  icpr^cept  ineinww. 

Celebrais  dog^rman.  7  dosb<?r  g^rman  bend^tu  lais.  7  teit 
uasalsacart  leis  diaforcill  cucomorba  petair  imcechngrad  .i.  signe- 
iius  cruimther  aainmside. 

Luid  \>atraic  iarsin  formuir  thorren.  isann  sin  dorala  aninis 
do.  cona.cca  intech  nua  7  lanomain  dec  ann.  7  ifcwmairc  senchail% 
crm  indoras1  intige.  Cid  das  inchaillech  ol  patraic.  INgen  ingine 
damsa  sin  arintoclach  7  ismarb  am#7/fozr  do  chri'ne.  Cid  fodera 
sin  olpatraic.  Ciist  dorala  chucaind  diambdi  itir  ddinib  arintdc- 
lach.  cond^rnswwarni  fleid  dd.  B<?wnachais  artegdais  7  sind  fen.  ocus 
nitharaill  inbennachtu  arclannu  7  rotharngir  duin  cotistasu  chucdind 
7  foracaib  abachaill  accaind  diatabairt  detsiu.  Nigebsa  olpatratc 
cotarda  f6n  dam. 


Taraill   iarsin   coaraile  nuasal[epscop]    cotarut  grad  nescwp 
fair.     Dochuaidsium  iarsin  doroim  7  fuair  onoir  7  oirmitin  icrd- 
7  iconabbaid  .i.  celestinwj  aainmsium. 


Isess/i/e  rofhaid  fer  diam««tir  docum  ner^w  doshilad  cretmi 
7  irse  do  feraib  erenn  .i.  palladia  aainm.  conAib  feraib  .x.  dopro- 
cept  do  goedelaib.  arislacomorba  petair  lesugud  naheorpa  uli 
7  acend«j.  Odaruacht  palladia  hi  crich  laigen  fri'thoriss^r  do 
nahii  mac  garrchon  m«c  fotha/i/  mete  echac/i  laimd^rg  mete  mesin- 
corb  7  roindarb  uadae.  Araide  robaist  uati  ann.  7  rofhoth^  trt 


1  The  (/  is  dotted. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  15 

besought  him  to  abide  thenceforward  always  with  them.  Sed  tamen, 
the  angel  came  to  him  in  his  sleep,  having  many  letters  in  Gaelic, 
and  when  he  was  reading  them  out  he  heard  a  great  cry  from  infants 
in  their  mothers'  wombs  in  the  regions  of  Connaught.  Those 
children  were  of  Caille  Fochlad,1  and  this  is  what  they  were  saying, 
41  Veni  Sancte  Patrici  salvos  nosfacere" 

Then  went  Patrick  to  learn  wisdom  and  piety  in  the  south 
east  of  Italy,  unto  bishop  German,  and  he  tarried  with  him  for 
thirty  years,  learning  the  holy  scripture,  and  fulfilling  it  in  humble 
and  lowly  wise.  And  another  thirty  years  was  his  age  when  he 
went  to  German.  Thirty  years  was  he  learning,  sixty  preaching  in 
Ireland. 

He  bade  farewell  to  German,  and  German  gave  him  his  bless 
ing,  and  a  chief  priest  went  with  him  to  testify  of  him  to  Peter's 
successor  as  to  every  grade,  to  wit,  Segetius  the  priest  was  his  name. 

Thereafter  Patrick  went  upon  the  Tyrrhene  sea :  it  was  there 
he  met  with  the  island.  He  saw  the  new  house  and  a  young  mar 
ried  couple  therein,  and  in  the  door  of  the  house  he  beheld  a  withered 
old  hag.  "  Who  may  the  hag  be  ?"  said  Patrick,  "  She  is  a  daught 
er's  daughter  of  mine,"  replied  the  young  man,  "and  her  mother 
is  dead  of  decay."  "  What  caused  that  ?"  said  Patrick.  "  Christ 
came  to  us  when  he  was  among  men,"  said  the  youth,  "  and  we 
made  a  feast  for  him.  He  blessed  our  dwelling  and  ourselves. 
Now  the  blessing  did  not  visit  our  children,  and  unto  us  he  fore 
told  that  thou  wouldst  come  to  us,  and  he  left  his  staff  with  us  to  be 
given  to  thee."  "  I  will  not  take  it,"  said  Patrick,  "  until  he  himself 
gives  it  to  me." 

Thereafter  he  went  to  a  certain  chief  bishop,  who  conferred 
episcopal  rank  upon  him.  He  afterwards  fared  to  Rome,  and  found 
honour  and  reverence  from  the  Romans  and  from  the  Abbot,  whose 
name  was  Celestinus. 

He  it  was  who  had  sent  a  man  of  his  family  to  Ireland  to  sow 
belief  and  faith  among  the  men  of  Ireland — Palladius  was  his 
name, — with  twelve  men,  to  preach  to  the  Gael,  for  unto  Peter's  suc 
cessor  belong  the  bettering  of  the  whole  of  Europe,  and  the 
headship  thereof.  When  Palladius  arrived  in  the  province  of  Lein- 
ster,  Nathf,  son  of  Garrchu,  son  of  Fothad,  son  of  Echaid  Redhand, 
son  of  Mesincorb,  withstood  him  and  expelled  him  from  thence. 

1  Near  Killala  in  the  county  of  Mayo. 


16  Betha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  26*. 


cella  ann  .i.  cell  fine  hifarcaib  aliubra  cotaissib  poll  7  petazr  \pcus 
tech  na  rdman  7  domnach  airte].1  7  f0#erbailtsium  aninis  bretan, 
ocdul  sair.  f^widandsin  roordaigset  patraic  uadib  inaaps/a/  doctim 
nere«».  7  atb^rtsat  aingil  fnssium  tider^/  cosokw  dociim  nerc«». 
Atb<?rtsum  naticfad  corosaicilW  fe"n  incoimdiu.  iarsin  rofucc  in- 
taingel  inarboric  letha  cus'm  czthraig  dianad  ainm  capua  isl&b 
armdin.,  super  ripam2  maris  tyrreni.  corosacaill  incoimdid  isin 
lucsin.  ama/  rosacaill  m[o]ysi  isleib  sfna.  7  condepert3  friss  techt 
doprocept  do  goedelu.  7  cotarut  bachaill  isu  dd  ind.  Conid  doreir 
shenaid  nardma  7  inaingil  7  inchoimded  tanic  pafratc  docum 


Tanic  iarsin  for  conair  .xx.  iiii.  fer  alin.  7  fuair  noei  forachind 
inerlaime  M\\xacht  mara  bretan.  intan  tra  tanic  \>atraic  isincurach. 
isann  bdi  clam  occuinchzi/  inaid  fair.  7  nirobi  inad  fas  \iir  ann. 
corolaswfl*  remi  amach  inimaltoir  clochi  forsandenad  oifrend  cech 
laei.  sed  tamen  dorigne  dia  firt  mor  and  .i.  nidechazi/  incloch  anich- 
tar.  7  nitharasar  dianessi.  acht  rosnai  imoncurach  bacuairt  cuto- 
lacht  meirmn. 


ISandsin  itownairc  patraic  circull  trom  dodemnaib  timchell 
erenn  .i.  uide  .ui.  laa  uathi  forcechleth. 

Odharuacht  patraic  cohinb^r  ndea  hicn'ch  laigen.  7  coaroile 
fich  comfoc«j.  nf fuair  failte  inntib.  7  mallachais  patraic  aninb<?rsin. 
conid  etoirthech  osin  ille  he.  7  cotanic  muir  darsintirsin.  Nathii 
mac  garrchon  tra  ise  rodiult  frf  patraic. 

Teit  patraic  izrum  tar  muir  cohull,tu.  dosaigid  mflicc  rig  dala- 
raite  dopmrept  anma  d^.  arisaccu  rosboi  anddire  artMj  comad  do 
tdisech  noprz'tchad.  comad  chomlan  infognam  diachurp  7  daan- 
main.  sed  tamen  tanic  miliuc  inaagaid  cuslogu  moraib  dogewtib. 
con&otecQd  he  fothfr.  uair  roforcongart  loegaire  for  firu  erenn.  conz- 
roslectis  patraic  fothfr.  uair  rothirchansatar  adniide  doloegazre 


These  churches  were  situated  in  the  territory  of  Ui-Garrchon,  which  was 

*  "*  °f  ""  presart 


2  Facs.  risam.  »  The  d  dotted. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  17 


However,  he  baptized  a  few  there,  and  founded  three  churches 
there,  namely,  Cellfine,  where  he  left  his  books,  with  relics  of 
Paul  and  Peter,  [and  '  the  House  of  the  Romans'  and  Domnach 
Arte]  and,  going  eastward,  he  died  in  the  island  of  Britain :  where 
fore  then  they  ordered  Patrick  as  an  apostle  from  them  to  Ireland, 
and  angels  told  him  to  go  to  Ireland  promptly.  He  said  that  he 
would  not  go,  until  the  Lord  should  speak  unto  himself.  There 
after  the  angel  brought  him  into  Armoric  Letha,  to  the  city 
named  Capua,  in  Mount  Hermon,  on  the  shore  of  the  Tyrrhene 
sea,  and  the  Lord  spake  to  him  at  that  place,  as  He  had 
spoken  to  Moses  on  Mount  Sinai,  and  told  him  to  come  to  preach 
to  the  Gael,  and  He  gave  him  the  staff  of  Jesus  :  wherefore  it  was 
according  to  the  will  of  the  synod  of  Rome  and  of  the  angel  and 
of  the  Lord  that  Patrick  came  to  Ireland. 

He  then  fared  forth  on  his  road,  four  and  twenty  men  were  his 
number,  and  he  found  a  ship  in  readiness  before  him  on  the 
strand  of  the  sea  of  Britain.  When  Patrick  came  into  the  boat, 
a  leper  was  asking  him  for  a  place,  and  there  was  no  empty 
place  therein.  So  he  put  out  before  him  (to  swim  in  the  sea)  the 
stone  altar  whereon  he  used  to  make  offering  every  day.  Sed  /amen, 
God  wrought  a  great  miracle  here,  to  wit,  the  stone  went  not  to 
the  bottom,  nor  did  it  stay  behind.  But  it  swam  round  about  the 
boat  [with  the  leper  on  it]  until  it  arrived  in  Ireland. 

Then  Patrick  saw  a  dense  ring  of  demons  around  Ireland, 
to  wit,  a  six  days'  journey  from  it  on  every  side. 

When  Patrick  came  to  Inver  Dea1  in  the  territory  of  Leinster, 
and  to  a  certain  hamlet  hard  by,  he  found  no  welcome  in  them,  and 
Patrick  cursed  that  rivermouth,  wherefore  it  is  barren  (of  fish) 
from  that  to  this,  and  the  sea  hath  come  over  that  land.  Nathi, 
the  son  of  Garrchu,  was  he  who  denied  Patrick. 

Patrick  afterwards  passed  over  sea  to  Ulster  to  seek  Miliuc, 
King  of  Dalaraide,  to  preach  the  name  of  God,  as  it  was  with  him 
he  was  in  servitude  at  first,  that  it  might  be  to  him  he  should  first 
preach,  and  the  service  to  Miliuc's  body  and  to  his  soul  might  thus 
be  complete.  Howbeit  Miliuc  came  against  him  with  great  hosts 
of  heathens,  and  would  not  let  him  land,  since  Loegaire2  had  ordered 
the  men  of  Ireland  that  they  should  not  let  Patrick  on  land  :  for  his 
soothsayers  had  foretold  to  Loegaire,  five  years  before,  that  Patrick 
would  arrive  in  Ireland,  to  wit,  Lochra  and  Lothrach  and  Luchat- 

1  *The  mouth  of  the  Vartry  river  in  the  County  of  Wicklow,'  O'Don. 
-  Overking  of  Ireland,  A.  D.  438. 


i8  Betha  Phatraic,  Lclar  Brecc,  pp.  26a— 26b. 

tidecht  patraic  docum  nerenn  .u.  \Aiadna  remi  feisin  .i.  lochra  ocus 
lothrach  7  lucatmoel  7  renell  ananmunna.  7  bahedso  atb^rtis 

Ticfai  taillcend  tarmuir  meircend 

abratt1  toillcend.  a  crand2  cromcend 

amias3  anairthz'wr  athige 

fn'scerut  am««ter  uli  amra  amra. 

Ocus  traigfid  czch  flaithi«j  7  CQch  adrad  7  ce^  cum^/a 
naba  humal  do.  7  isasaflaithiwj  fe"n  forbia  cobrath. 

Dochuaid  patraic  \zrum  inachurach  cohinber  slani.  7  tanic 
inaagfl/#  dichil  m«c  trechim.  corogreis  inaaghaid  coin  rdgeir  b(5i 
occa,  sed  tamen  dorat  pa/rate  ardhe  nacr0chi  coimdeta  inahagaid. 
7  rogab  infers  fhathacda.  Ne  tradas  domine  b.  a.  con.  f.  1. 1.  ocus 
tarrw^ar  incii  isin  inadsin  7  forfemid  cor  de.  ISannsin  ronocht^- 
tar  dichu  acloidem.  7  teit  domarbad  patraic.  Dosfor  patraic  arde 
cr^chi  cm/  inaagazif  corfemid  cor  dochois  no  do  laim  de.  larsin 
dosgni  dichu  ai/^rige  7  slechtais  ifiadwaz^e  patraic  cotarut  adgreir 
do.  7  rocreit  innoendia.  7  robaitsed  coslogu  mora  immaille  fr/ss. 
7  dorat  inferonnsin  dodia  7  dop«/r«?'c.  Rochumtaig  patraic  eclas 
isininudsin.  dianid  ainm  saball  patraic  indi'u  7  rotharngir  do 
dichoin.  isann  noragad  dochum  nime.  7  dorat  b^nachtain  moir 
dodichoin  7  diaclannaib  ut  dixit  patraic  insin. 


Bendacht  de  do  dichoin  romfoir  imon  saball 
ronbiasww  diaessi  innoemtech  nglesed  nglanoll. 
Bend^/  de  for  dichoin  dichu  dilcend  cro 
nibahifornach  buan  ban«  eland  nacined  do. 
Luid    patraic    ia.mm    doforcetul    miliuc    am^/    rotr/all«st(7r. 
Oroscuala  miliuc  patraic  forset  chuca.    iadais   atech    fair   fen   ocus 
fora,  uli  indmas.  7  dosbtr  tenid  fair  md.  coroloiscedsww  cona.u\i 
drilliud.  arnarochreted  do  patraic.     Roairis  patraic  ocfegad  natein- 
ed.  7  iss^  atb^rt. 

IN  fer  asaerbaid  airi  siut 
narocreted  damsa  7  donchoimdiu 

1  .i.  cochall.  2  .i.  bachall. 


On  the  Life  of  Sf.  Patrick.  19 

macl  and  Renell  were  their  names,  and  this  is  what  they  used  to 
say — 

"  An  Adzehead  shall  come  across  stormy  (?)  sea : 
His  mantle1  hole-headed,  his  staff2  crook-headed : 
His  dish3  in  the  east  of  his  house : 
All  his  people  shall  answer  Amen,  Amen  ; 
And  every  princedom  and  every  worship  and  every  might  that 
will  not  be  humble  to  him  shall  ebb  away,  and  his  own  princedom 
shall  abide  for  ever." 

Patrick  went  afterwards  in  his  boat  to  Inverslany,4  and  there 
came  against  him  Dichu,  son  of  Trechem,  and  he  set  against  him 
a  fierce  hound  which  he  had.  Sed  tamen  Patrick  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross  of  the  Lord  against  it,  and  he  chanted  the  prophetic 
verse,  ne  tradas,  Domine,  bestiis  animas  confitentium  tibt,  and  the 
hound  stopt  in  that  place  and  was  unable  to  stir.  Then  Dichu 
bared  his  brand,  and  went  to  kill  Patrick.  Patrick  made  the  sign 
of  Christ's  cross  against  him,  so  that  he  could  not  stir  either  foot 
or  hand.  Thereafter  Dichu  repented  and  knelt  before  Patrick 
and  gave  him  his  full  will,  and  Dichu  believed  in  the  one  God, 
and  he  and  great  hosts  along  with  him  were  baptized,  and 
he  gave  that  land  (whereon  he  was  converted)  to  God  and  to 
Patrick.  In  that  place  Patrick  built  a  church  which  is  called 
Saball  Patraic5  to-day,  and  he  foretold  to  Dichu  that  it  would 
be  there  he  should  go  to  heaven.  And  he  gave  a  great  blessing 
to  Dichu  and  to  his  children,  ut  dixit  Patricius  then — 

God's  blessing  on  Dichu  who  granted  me  the  Barn. 
It  shall  remain  after  him  the  holy  beautiful  fine  great  house, 
God's  blessing  on  Dichu,  who  forgives  (?)  blood  : 
No  children  or  race  of  his  shall  be  for  ever  in  hell. 
Patrick  afterwards   went   to   teach  Miliuc  as  he  had   (before) 
proceeded.  When  Miliuc  heard  that  Patrick  was  on  his  way  to  him, 
he  closed  his  house  upon  himself  and  upon  all  his  wealth,  and  he 
set  fire  to  himself  in  it  so  that  he  was  burnt  with  all  his  goods,  in 
order  that  he  might  not  believe  in  Patrick.     Patrick,  seeing  the 
fire,  stopt  and  he  said — 

"  The  man  who  had  resolved  (?)  upon  this 
That  he  might  not  believe  in  me  and  in  the  Lord, 

1  cowl.  2  crozier.  3  his  altar. 

4  The  estuary  of  the  Slany  '  a  small  river  at  the  S.  W.  extremity  of  Strang- 
ford  Lough,'  Todd. 

*  '  Patrick's  Barn.'     Now  Saul  in  the  County  Down. 


20  Betha  Phatraic,  Lclar  Brecc,  p.  26h. 

nibia  rigc  na  oirechws  uad  cobr«th 
7  aanimm  aniffrmd  tr/abithu. 

7  otrubai'rt  patraic  nabria/^rasa  roimpo  dessel  ina  fr/thlorg 
doridisi  itir  nulad.  cotorar/^/  mag  ninis  ]  codichoin  mac  trechim. 
ocus  roan  and  fr/re  cian. 

Teit  iarww  patraic  cosaball  fodess  copntchad  do  nls  m0r 
trechim.  isisedfe  bdi  inderlw^  fr/dun  leth  glasi*  indess.  Ata  cathair 
becc  and  indiu.  7  brectain  ahainmsium.  dti  hita  escop  loairnd. 

Diamboi  patratc  tra  iarnas^t  r<?»acca  inmoethoclach  ocingaire 
mucc.  Mochoa  aainmsium.  pn'tchats  patraic  d6  7  robaist.  7  roberr 
7  dorat  sos<r^7a.  7  menist/r  do.  7  dorat  do  tra  tan  aile  bachaill 
tucad  doib  odia.  acend  inucht  patraic  7  acoss  inucht  mochoe. 
isi'sin  Ira  indeittech  mochoe  noendromae.  7  doordaig  muicc  mb^rr- 
tha  ce^a  bliad««  do  patraic  7  dob^rar  fous» 


Celebrais  patraic  dodichoin.  7  trz'allaid  •  do  acalta  loegaire 
cotemraig  iarfairgi  comag  mbreg.  7  fuair  failte  moir  isininad  sin 
oc  aroli  fir  uasal.  7  rochreit  conzmuntir  do.  7  rdbaitsed  conid  acca 
foracaib  achurach. 


Mac  becc  boi  isintig  dorat  seircc  do  patraic  7  gebis  achois 
ocdul  d(5  isincarp^/.  7  dilsigit  anrm«ter  do  patraic  he.  7  nosb«r 
patraic  leis  «>nid  hesin  binen  gilla  patraic. 

ISandsin  roecnaig  aroli  drui  eccraibtech  .i.  mantais  aainm 

do  patraic.     Fergaither  patraic  fris.  7  dobeir  amwj  do  bachaill  isu 

fair,  cotordkwr  ifiad^we  nasldg.  7  corosluic  talum  he.  conid  desin 
ata.  noconuil  amain  mdntais. 

Teit  patraic  iarsin  cuferta  fer  feicc.  Adhanntar  tenid  occa 
isininudsin  ifescor  nacasc.  Fergaither  loegaire  otchi  intenid 
arbahi  sin  geis  temrach  ocgoedeluib.  7  nilamad  nech  tenid  dfhatdd 
ineinJwi  isindlousin.  ndcunadanta  hitemraig  artwj  isinsollamain.  ocus 

'  Now  Lecale  in  the  County  Down,  O'Don.,  Four  Masters  A.  M.   S52o 
»  Generally  called  Dun-dd-lethgla*,  the  fort  of  the  two  broken  locks  or  fetters 
now  Downpatrick. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  21 


Nor  kingdom  or  chieftainship  shall  be  from  him  till  Doomr 
And  his  soul  shall  be  in  hell  for  ever." 

And  when  Patrick  had  uttered  these  words  he  returned  right- 
handwise  by  the  same  road  again  into  the  land  of  Ulster  until  he 
reached  Mag  Inis  (and  came)  to  Di'chu,  son  of  Trichem,  and  there 
he  staid  for  a  long  time. 

Patrick  went  afterwards  to  Saball  southward,  and  preached  to 
Ross,  son  of  Trichem.  It  was  he  that  dwelt  at  Derlus  to  the  south 
of  Dun  Lethglasse.  A  small  town  is  there  to- day  whose  name  is 
Brechtain,  the  place  wherein  is  Bishop  Loairn. 

As  Patrick  was  (going)  along  his  way  he  saw  the  tender 
youth  herding  swine,  Mochoa  was  his  name.  Patrick  preached  to 
him,  and  baptized  and  tonsured  him  and  gave  him  a  gospel 
and  a  reliquary,  and  at  another  time  he  gave  him  a  crozier  which 
had  been  sent  to  them  from  God,  its  head  falling  in  Patrick's  bosom 
and  its  foot  in  Mochoa's  bosom.  This  is  the  Eittech  of  Mochoa 
of  Noendruim1 ;  and  he  ordered  a  shaven  pig  (to  be  given)  every 
year  to  Patrick,  and  it  is  still  given. 

Patrick  bade  farewell  to  Dfchu,  and  proceeds  to  Tara  to 
speak  unto  Loegaire.  [He  sailed]  along  the  sea  to  Mag  Breg, 
[and  stopped  at  Inver  Colptha,2]  and  he  found  great  welcome  in 
that  place  from  a  certain  gentleman  who  both  believed  in  him 
with  all  his  people  and  was  baptized,  wherefore  with  him  he 
(Patrick)  left  his  boat. 

A  little  boy  that  was  in  the  house  gave  love  to  Patrick,  and 
took  hold  of  his  leg  as  he  was  going  into  the  chariot,  and  his 
family  bestow  him  on  Patrick,  and  Patrick  takes  him  with  him, 
and  this  is  Bendn,  Patrick's  gillie. 

It  was  then  a  certain  impious  wizard  named  Mantais  reviled 
Patrick.  Patrick  is  enraged  with  him,  and  he  makes  a  thrust  of 
Jesus'  crozier  at  him,  and  he  fell  before  the  hosts,  and  the  earth 
swallowed  him,  whence  is  [the  saying]  noconuil  amain  Mantais. 

Patrick  went  thereafter  to  Ferta  Fer  Feicc.3  Fire  is  kindled 
by  him  at  that  place  on  the  eve  of  Easter.  Loegaire  is  enraged 
when  he  sees  the  fire.  For  that  was  a  prohibition  of  Tara  which  the 
Gael  had,  and  no  one  durst  kindle  a  fire  in  Ireland  on  that  day  until 


1  Mahee  Island.     The  Eiitech  ('  winged'  crozier)  of  Mochoa  was   so   called 
from  the  belief  that  it  was  coditus  missus,  Reeves'  Columla  460. 

2  The  mouth  of  the  Boyne. 

3  Fiacc's  (or  FeccolV  men's  graves.'     Now  Slane  in  Meath. 


22  Bet  ha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p. 


atbcrtsatar  [2ya]  nadruide.  mine  baiter  rianoidche  anocht  intene 
ut.  bid  laisintii  isatene  suit  flaith  erenn  cobraih. 

Tune  dixit  rex.  nibamlaid  bess  acht  bid  sinde  nosricfasww  oats 
ndsmuirbfe.  Atraig  inrig  conaslogu  dosaigid  patraic  dia  marbad. 
Nirancatar  immurro  riand<?riud  didche.  Orosiacht  tra  inrig  com- 
focus.  atbert  adriiid  fr/ss.  naheircsiu  chuicesium  oleat  narup 
comartha  onora  do.  acht  corapeisium  tn  cucatsu.  7  naherced  nech 
remi.  Daronad  amkz'</.  Ofowmairc  pa/rate  naheich  7  nacarp«?7 
isandsin  rochan  infersasa.  hii  in  curribus  7  hii  in  equis.  nos  hautem 
in  nomine  domini  dei  nostri  magni.  acht  nama  dthanic  patraic  isin- 
oirecht.  atracht  remi  m^c  dega  .i.  epscop  ercc  fil  icslani. 


ISandsin  tanic  cohesamain  7  cofergach  m&gaid  patraic  oen 
donadraidib  .i.  lochru.  7  rosecnaig1  don  iris  cm/aide.  Tune  sanc- 
tus  patricius  dixit.  Amochoimdiu  istii  ^wmicc  inuli.  isatchum<2^/u 
att«/.  istii  ronfaid  illcthsa.  malartar  nunc  int^craibdechsa  fil  oce"c- 
nach  thanmasu  ifiadwaz!re  chaich. 

Deniurad  labrethir  patraic  tuarcaibset  demnu  isindasor  indruid 
7  roslecset  uadib  fhlar  coroben  achend  fncloich  7  condemn  men 
ocus  luaith  de  ifiadwazje  chdich.  corwjgab  cnth  7  uamun  dofuk^/a 
nasluaig  bator  and. 

Rofergaiged  tra  loegaire  Sri  patraic  7  toet  diamarW.  Otcon- 
nairc  patraic  tiduapairt  nangenti  inaagazi/.  isandsin  atbert  oguth 
mor.  Exurgat  deus  et  disipinitur  ini[mici]eius.  Tanic  talamchum- 
scugud  mor  7  torand  and.  7  goeth  coroscail  nacairpthiu  7  nagregu 
cofata  forcechleth.  corrancatar  cobrig  gr«ide.  7  co  sliab  moenuir«&d. 
7  comboi  cdch  dib  anar  achele  tramalkzc&ain  patraic.  ^warfacbad 
ifail  inrig  acht  oenchethrur  isininudsin  .i.  he  fen  7  asetig  7  dias  dia 
ses  gradai. 

Orwjgab  uamun  inrigan  dodechaid  cvpatraic.  7  atbert  fnss. 
Aduine  fireoin  7  aduine  cum^/aig.  nirosmarba  inrig.  vair  slecht' 
faid  duitt  7  dobdVa  doriar  fen  duit.  Tanic  inrig  7  doratsom  areir 
dops/r^obeolu  7  nitharut  ocJnffiu.  7  atbert  fripatrau:  dul  inadhiaid 
cot^mraig  cotartad  ariar  do  hi  fiad«azje  fer  ner«i».  Nihedsin  Ira 


1  Ms.  rosecnaid. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  23 


it  had  been  kindled  first  at  Tara  at  the  solemnity.  And  the  wizards 
said  "  unless  that  fire  be  quenched  before  this  night,  he  whose  fire 
it  is  shall  have  the  kingdom  of  Ireland  for  ever." 

Tune  dixit  rex  "  it  shall  not  be  so,  but  we  will  go  to  him  and 
kill  him."  The  king  arises  with  his  host  to  seek  Patrick  and  kill 
him ;  but  they  did  not  arrive  before  the  end  of  night.  When 
the  king  drew  nigh  his  wizards  said  to  him  "  go  not  thou  to  him," 
said  they,  "  that  it  may  not  be  a  token  of  honour  to  him.  But  let 
him  come  to  thee  and  let  none  rise  up  before  him."  Thus  was  it 
done.  When  Patrick  saw  the  horses  and  the  chariots,  he  then 
sang  this  verse :  "  Hi  in  curribus  et  hi  in  egm's,  nos  autcm  in  nomine 
dominiDei  nostri  magni"  But,  when  Patrick  came  in  to  the  assem 
bly,  only  the  son  of  Deg  rose  up  before  him,  that  is,  Bishop  Ere, 
who  is  (venerated)  at  Slane. 

Then  came  one  of  the  wizards,  to  wit,  Lochru,  fiercely  and 
angrily  against  Patrick,  and  reviled  the  Christian  faith.  Tune 
sanctus  Patricius  dixit — "  O  my  Lord,  it  is  Thou  that  canst  do  all 
things  :  in  Thy  power  they  are :  it  is  Thou  that  sentest  us  hither. 
Let  this  impious  one,  who  is  blaspheming  Thy  name,  be  destroyed 
in  the  presence  of  all." 

Swifter  than  speech,  at  Patrick's  word,  demons  raised  the 
wizard  into  the  air,  and  they  let  him  go  (down)  against  the  earth, 
and  his  head  struck  against  a  stone,  and  dust  and  ashes  were  made 
of  him  in  the  presence  of  all,  and  trembling  and  intolerable  dread 
seized  the  hosts  that  were  there. 

Loegaire  was  enraged  with  Patrick,  and  went  to  kill  him. 
When  Patrick  perceived  the  attack  of  the  heathen  upon  him,  he 
then  said,  with  a  mighty  voice,  "Exsurgat  Deus  et  dissipentur 
inimici  ejus."  Came  a  great  earthquake  and  thunder  there,  and  a 
wind,  and  scattered  the  chariots  and  the  horses  afar  on  every 
side,  so  that  they  came  even  to  Brig  Graide  and  Sliab  Moenuirnn,1 
and  they  were  all  slaughtering  each  other  through  Patrick's  curse, 
and  there  were  left  along  with  the  king  but  four  persons  only  in 
that  place,  to  wit,  himself  and  his  wife  and  two  of  his  priests. 

When  terror  seized  the  queen  she  went  to  Patrick  and  said  to 
him,  "  O  righteous  one  and  O  mighty  one,  kill  not  the  king,  for  he 
shall  submit  to  thee,  and  give  thee  thine  own  will."  The  king  came 
and  gave  his  will  to  Patrick  by  word  of  mouth,  but  gave  it  not 
from  his  heart ;  and  he  told  Patrick  to  go  after  him  to  Tara  that 
he  might  give  him  his  will  before  the  men  of  Ireland.  That, 


1  '  ad  montem  Moncluirn,'  Lib.  Annach.  4  a  2. 


24  Betha  Phatrak,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  3J\ 

boi  inam^/main.  acht  marbad  pafrat'c  vair  foraccaib  etarnaide1  CQC/I 
belaig  forachind  ota  sin  cotemraig. 

Dochuaid  patraic  iarsin  ochtm  mor  la  gilla  .i.  bindn  seeh  inuli 
etarnaide.1  hirricht  ocht  noige  nalltai.  7  enloeg  alkiA/inandiaid.  OCTIS 
en  find  fbragualaind  .i.  binen  sin  7  polire  pa/raic  foramuin.  cotrde- 
chaidz  iarsin  doirrsib  foriattaib  isintemraig.  collar  inrigthaigi. 
isandsin  boi  inrig  ocfledugw^  corigraid  eretm  imi  ar  insollamainse 
.i.  vair  ba  hi  sin  feis  temra. 

Ni  erracht  nech  ria  patratc  itemraig  acht  fili  inrig  .1.  diibthach 
mac  hut  lugair.  7  rochreit  7  robaist.  7  dosbeir  pa/raic  b^wnach- 
tudo. 

Gairmth^r  insin  pafraic  docum  leptha  inrig.  corosthoimlcd 
biad.  nirohobb  immurro  patraic  innisin.  Dorat  \ra  indrdid  lucat- 
mael  banni  doneim  inerdig  patraic.  7  dosrat  illaim  patraic.  roben- 
naig  immurro  patraic  indrdig  7  rosimpoi  inlestar.  7  atrochair 
ass  indneim.  7  nitorch0/r  abecc  donlfnd.  7  attib  ^pa/rate  inlind 
i&rum. 

ISandsin  atb^rt  inrig  fhagilla  .i.  fr/crundmasl.  eirg  immach  for 
clochan  natemrach  7  notleic  fein  fair.  7  coimlet  toes  cww[asc]tha 
fuil  imotchend.  7  abrat  istutim  dorochar  forsnaclochaib  rw/erbaltais. 
7  atb</rsa  fn'sinclerech  techt  dot  toduscad.  7  ciatbttrasom  fntsa  ergi 
naherig.  Dordnad  amlaid.  Otwwnairc  ira  patraic  incorp.  rofol'lsig 
dia  do  corobrec  tucc^  imme.  con[id]airesin  atb<?rtsom. 


A  mo  chrundinasl.     A  mo  gillmael.     A  mo  gerat. 
gerothiacht  ni.  cen  corosiacht.  nirotera^/ 
gedorochar.  cencotorcrwr  forsnaclocha  comul  cricha 
gerotsiacht  ni  cencotiacht.  nirotichthar. 


ISderb  din.  nochorhiccad  labrethir  pa/raic  crundmsel  7  nier- 
achl  itir  osin  illc, 

Dochotar  iarsin  nasloig  asintemraig  immach.  isandsin  atb*rt 
indruid  Denumm  comferta  cofessamar  cia  uaind  bus  calma. 


Ms.  eUiraaige.  2  Dot  over  first  d. 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Patrick.  25 

however,  was  not  what  he  had  in  his  mind,  but  to  kill  Patrick, 
for  he  left  ambushes  before  him  on  every  road  from  that  to 
Tara. 

Thereafter  went  Patrick  (and  his  train  of)  eight,  together  with 
a  gillie  Bene*n,  past  all  the  ambushes,  in  the  shape  of  eight 
deer  and  behind  them  one  fawn  with  a  white  bird  on  its  shoulder, 
that  is,  Benen  with  Patrick's  book-satchel  on  his  back  ;  and  there 
after  he  went  into  Tara,  the  doors  being  shut,  to  the  middle  of 
the  palace.  The  king  was  then  feasting  with  the  kings  of  Ireland 
around  him  at  this  festival,  for  that  was  the  Feast  of  Tara. 

No  one  rose  up  before  Patrick  at  Tara  except  the  king's  poet, 
Dubthach  Macculugair,  and  he  believed  and  was  baptized,  and 
Patrick  gave  him  a  blessing. 

Patrick  is  then  called  to  the  king's  couch  that  he  might  eat 
food,  and  Patrick  refused  not  that.  The  wizard  Lucatmael  put 
a  drop  of  poison  into  Patrick's  cruse,  and  gave  it  into  Patrick's 
hand  :  but  Patrick  blessed  the  cruse  and  inverted  the  vessel,  and 
the  poison  fell  thereout,  and  not  even  a  little  of  the  ale  fell.  And 
Patrick  afterwards  drank  the  ale. 

Then  said  the  king  to  his  gillie  Crunnmael,  "  Go  out  on  the 
causeway  of  Tara,  and  lay  thee  down  thereon  and  let  them  rub 
dough  mixed  with  blood  about  thy  head,  and  let  them  say  that 
thou  fellest1  upon  the  stones  and  that  thou  diedst,  and  I  will  tell 
the  cleric  to  come  to  bring  thee  to  life,  and  though  he  tell  thee  to 
rise,  arise  not."  Thus  was  it  done.  When  Patrick  saw  the  body, 
God  made  manifest  to  him  that  guile  was  practised  on  him,  where 
fore  he  said— 

O  my  Crunnmael,  O  my  bald  youth,  O  my  hero, 
Though  thou  attainedst  one  thing,  though  thou  hast  not 

attained,  thou  hast  not  arisen, 
Though  thou   hast   fallen,   though  thou  hast  not  fallen 

upon  the  stones — a  final  deed, 
Thou  thou  attainedst  one  thing,  though  thou  hast  not 

attained,  thou  art  not  healed. 

It  is  certain  that  Crunnmael  was  not  healed  by  Patrick's  word", 
and  from  that  time  forth  he  arose  not. 

Thereafter  the  hosts  fared  forth  out  of  Tara.  Then  said  the 
wizards,  "  Let  us  work  miracles  together  that  we  may  know  which 
of  us  is  the  stronger."  "  So  be  it  done,"  said  Patrick.  Then 

1  lit.  '  that  it  is  a  fall  thou  fellest/ 


2,6  Bet/ia  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  27* — 27b. 

Dentar  amlaid  olpa/raic.  isandsin  dorat  indrui  [p.  27b] snechta 
darsinmag  corocht  formna  fer.  dixit  pa/ricius  fris  Dichuir  fodechta. 
si  potes.  dixit  magus.  Nichumcaim  cusintrath  ce/'na  imbarach.  Dar- 
mode'broth  .i.  darmodia  mbr«tha  olpa/raic  isinulcc  atta  documtf^- 
/u  7  nifil  iitr  amaith.  Senais  pa/raic  inmag.  coroleag  insnechta 
foc^^/oir. 

Dorogart  indrai  demnu  cotuc  dorchai  sholam^/aige  darsin 
mag.  corosgab  cn'th  7  uamun  each,  dixit  pa/rictus.  Beir  ass  indor- 
chatu.  si  potes.  Albert  indraf  nichumcaim  cw^intrath  c//na  imba 
rach.  Senais  pa/raic  inmag.  7  tiagat  ass  nadorchatu  foc/^^7oir 
corolass  ingr/an  ataiblebech  (?).  Rosgniset  inuli  batar  and  atlugud 
dodia  7  pa/raic. 

Tune  dixit  rex.  curid  bar  libra  inusce.  7  cibe  uaib  isalibair 
elait  dogenumne  adrad  do.  isamerlumsa  do  sin  o\patraic.  Atb^rt 
indrai.  dia  usce  adras  infersa.  7  niragsa  imoenfuigell  fris.8  Rath 
nabaits/  sin  roairigsium  oc  pa/raic. 

Albert  in  rig.  curid  bar  libra  itenid.  isamerlumsa  do  sin  ol 
patratc.  Nidingen  amlaid  olindrai.  vair  dia  tened  adras  infersa 
cecM-abliadain  .i.  rath  inspir/a  noib  rorathaig  oc  pa/rate  indsin. 
conid  andsin  fh'th  aroli  comarli  ann  .i.  tech  dodenum  isinvairsin- 
aleth  lir.  7  aroli  crin.  7  indrai  dochur  isin[leth]iir  7  dtach  pa/raic 
imme.  gilla  pa/raic  .i.  binen  dothabairt  isinleth  crin  7  tonach  indrvad 
imme. 


ISandsin  tancatar  copa/raic  teora  m^ccoemu  bater  aneteriaj 
ocloegaire.  Ciit  fri  pa/raic.  roiarfaigi  pa/raic  cid  sin  am^cu.  fir 
fkMa  areat  dobriss^  hiprimcat^raig  na  ngoedel  indiu.  Cait  on 
olpatraic.  Intech  gnith^r  dondraf  7  dotgillasu  \szmlaid  gnfth^r  .i. 
leth  de  lir.  7  leth  crin  .i.  inleth  ilr  dondrai.  7  incrin  dotgillasa. 


Tuc  pa/raic  amer  forgruad  ndeis  ce^  meic  dib.  7  tuc  der  tar- 
gr«aid  deis  ce^  meic  forad^naind  clii.  tuc  aanail  fothib  condemn 
ieor*  gemma  dib.  Slucid  olpa/raic  nagemma.  Slucfemit  areat 


1  Ms.  roiarfaid. 

habet' 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  27 


the  wizard  brought  snow  over  the  plain  till  it  reached  men's 
shoulders.  Dixit  Patricins  to  him,  "  Put  it  away  now  if  thou  canst." 
Dixit  magus,  "  I  cannot  till  the  same  time  to-morrow."  "  By  my 
debroth"  (that  is,  "  by  my  God  of  judgment,")  saith  Patrick,  "  it  is 
in  evil  thy  power  lieth,  and  nowise  in  good."  Patrick  blessed 
the  plain,  and  the  snow  melted  at  once. 

The  wizard  invoked  demons,  and  over  the  plain  he  brought 
darkness1  that  could  be  felt,  and  trembling  and  terror  seized  every 
one.  Dixit  Patricius,  "  Take  away  the  darkness  si  potes."  The 
wizard  replied,  "  I  cannot  till  the  same  time  to-morrow."  Patrick 
blessed  the  plain  and  the  darknesses  at  once  depart,  and  the  sun 
shone  forth  .....  All  who  were  there  gave  thanks  to  God  and 
to  Patrick. 

Tune  dixit  rex,  "  Put  your  books  into  water,  and  him  of  you 
whose  books  escape  we  will  adore."  "  I  am  ready  for  that,"  saith 
Patrick.  Said  the  wizard,  "  a  god  of  water  this  man  adores,  and 
I  will  not  submit  to  the  ordeal  of  water."  That  was  the  grace  of 
Baptism  which  he  had  perceived  with  Patrick. 

Said  the  king,  "  Put  your  books  into  fire."  "  I  am  ready  for 
that,"  saith  Patrick.  "  I  will  not  do  thus,"  saith  the  wizard,  "  for 
this  man  adores  a  god  of  fire  every  two  years,"  that  is,  it  was  the 
grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  he  perceived  with  Patrick.  Then 
another  counsel  was  taken,  that  is,  to  build  a  house  in  that  hour  — 
the  half  thereof  fresh  and  the  other  withered,  and  to  put  the  wizard 
into  the  fresh  half  with  Patrick's  raiment  about  him,  (and)  to  place 
Patrick's  gillie,  Bendn,  into  the  withered  half,  with  the  wizard's 
tunic  about  him. 

Then  came  to  Patrick  three  striplings,  who  were  kept  in  host- 
ageship  with  Loegaire.  They  weep  unto  Patrick.  Patrick  asked, 
"  What  is  that,  my  sons  ?"  "  In  the  chief  city  of  the  Gael  a 
prince's  truth,"  say  they,  "  hath  to-day  been  broken."  "  Where  is 
this  ?"  saith  Patrick.  "  The  house  which  is  abuilding  for  the  wizard 
and  thy  gillie,  in  this  wise  is  it  abuilding  :  half  thereof  fresh  and 
half  withered  ;  the  fresh  half  for  the  wizard  and  the  withered  for 
thy  gillie." 

Patrick  put  his  finger  on  the  right  cheek  of  each  of  those  boys, 
and  on  his  left  palm  he  put  a  tear  (which  had  trickled)  over  the 
right  cheek  of  each  boy  ;  and  he  breathed  on  the  tears,  and  made 
thereof  three  gems.  "  Swallow,"  saith  Patrick,  "the  gems."  "We 
will  swallow  (them),"  say  they.  "Good,  now,"  saith  Patrick: 


1  Tenebrae  .  .  .  tarn  densae,  ut  palpari  queant.  E.iW.  x,  21 


28  Eetha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  27 b. 

Maith  tra  o\patraic  genfedit  teora,  gemma  uaisle  oirmitnecha  vaib  .1. 
colomb  cille  7  comgall  bennchm'r  7  finden  maige  bile. 

Doronad  tra  ama/  atb^rtsat  narcuzccoim  7  twad  teni  isin  tech. 
7  loiscth^r  inleth  ur  7  indrdi  ind.  7  niroloisced  etach  patratc  boi 
imme.  Niroloiso?*/  tra  inleth  crin  nach  ingilla.  7  roloisotf  tonach 
indruad  boi  immi. 

Oclaichtlw  inrig  domarbad  indruad.  7  tri&\\aid  marbd^  patraic. 
Tanic  din  ferg  d6  fnsinpopw/  n^craibdech  ftmepil  sochaide  dib.  xii. 
mt'lh'a. 

Rogab  uaman  ia.rum  \oegaire  coroslecht  do  patraic  7  rocreit 
dodia  obeolu  nama.  7  ni  ocride  glan.  Cretit  inuli  archena  ocus 
robaitsit. 

Atb^rt  pa/rate  fri  \oegaire  vair  rocretisiu  dodia  doberihar  fot 
saegail  duit  hirrigi.  illog  immurro  tanumla  anallana.  7  vair  naro- 
gabais  inmbathis  odiithra^/.  ciarocretis  obeolu.  rotbia  iffi?rnd.  7 
nisbia  rigi  no  airechw^  otchiniud  cobr^th. 


Roguid  tra  inrigan  intii  patraic  naromallach^  ingein  boi  ina- 
broind  .i.  lugaid  mac  \oegairi.  Atbfrt  patraic  nimaill^w^  cotii 
frmm.  Rogab  immurro  \ugaid  ft&ith  erenn.  7  tanic  iarsin  cohachad 
fhorcha  7  isandsin  atb^rt  nach  hisiut  cell  inclerig  atrubairt  na<r/^ 
biad  rig  no  rigdamna  diarsilne  cobrtith.  Deniurad.  tarlaiced  forcha 
tened  foc/fo7oir  inachends«;«  corwj-marb  wwiddesin  ata  &chad  forcha 
imiib  cremthainde. 

Teit  patraic  insin  cohaenach  taillten1  cormzcu  neill.  Rocreit 
maine  do  7  robaist  i&rum.  Tanic  tra  mzzgaid  coirpr^  mac  neill 
comd  he  ainm  tucc  patraic  fairsium.  mimics  dei.  7  atb^rt  patraic 
isdoclannaib  abrathar  fognifitis  achlandsww  cobrath.  7  nigenfitis 
rig  no  escmp  no  ecnaide  vad.  7  ropad  becc  aferond.  7  ropad  essfth 
amlatd. 

Rocretistar  tra  cona\\  (.i.  cremtan)  m0c  neill.  7  robaits^  7  tuc 
aninad  arobi  do  patraic.  7  rocwwdaiged  eclas  and  dianainm  dom- 
nach  patraic  7  tuc  bermachfam  do.  7  rothoraind  raith  inairthi«r 


'  uenit  ad  Taltenam  ubi  fit  agon  [dywy]  regale '  Lib.  Armach.  10.  a.  2. 


On  Ike  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  29 

"  three  noble  venerable  gems  shall  be  born  of  you,  that  is,  Colomb 
Cille,  and  Congall  of  Bennchor, x  and  Finden  of  Magbile.  * 

It  was  done  as  the  striplings  had  said ;  and  fire  was  put  into 
the  house,  and  the  fresh  half  is  burnt  with  the  wizard  therein,  and 
Patrick's  raiment  which  was  about  him  was  not  burnt.  But  the 
withered  half  was  not  burnt,  nor  the  gillie,  but  the  wizard's  tunic 
which  was  about  him  was  burnt. 

The  king  grows  terrible  (?)  at  the  killing  of  the  wizard,  and  he 
proceeds  to  kill  Patrick.  But  God's  anger  came  against  the  impi 
ous  folk,  so  that  a  multitude  of  them  (twelve  thousand)  perished. 

Terror  then  seized  Loegaire,  and  he  knelt  to  Patrick,  and 
believed  in  God  with  (his)  lips  only,  and  not  with  a  pure  heart. 
All  the  rest,  moreover,  believe  and  were  baptized. 

Patrick  said  to  Loegaire,  "  Since  thou  hast  believed  in  God, 
length  of  life  shall  be  given  to  thee  in  the  kingdom,  but  in  guerdon 
of  thy  disobedience  aforetime,  and  because  thou  hast  not  received 
the  baptism  with  desire,  though  thou  believedst  with  thy  lips, 
Hell  shalt  thou  have,  and  from  thy  race  till  Doom  there  shall  be 
neither  sovranty  nor  chieftainship." 

But  the  queen  besought  Patrick  not  to  curse  the  child  that 
was  in  her  womb,  namely,  Lugaid,  son  of  Loegaire.  Patrick  said  : 
"  I  will  not  curse  him  till  he  opposes  me."  Now  Lugaid  took  the 
realm  of  Ireland ;  and  thereafter  he  came  to  Achad  farcha,  and 
there  he  said  "  is  not  that  the  church  of  the  cleric  who  said  there 
would  never  be  king  nor  crownprince  of  our  seed  ?"  Swifter  than 
speech  a  bolt  of  fire  was  hurled  against  him  and  killed  him. 
Wherefore  thence  is  called  Achad  farcha  in  Ui  Cremthainne.3 

Patrick  then  goes  to  the  Assembly  of  Telltown,  to  the  sons  of 
Niall.  Maine  believed  in  him,  and  he  was  afterwards  baptized. 
But  Coirpre,  son  of  Niall,  opposed  him,  and  the  name  which 
Patrick  gave  him  was  Inimicus  Dei,  and  Patrick  said  that  his 
children  would  serve  his  brother's  children  for  ever;  and  that 
neither  kings  nor  bishops  nor  wise  men  should  spring  from  him, 
and  that  his  land  would  be  small,  and  the  issue  was  so. 

But  Conall  (i.  e.  Cremthann),  son  of  Niall,  believed,  and  was 
baptized,  and  gave  the  place  where  he  was  to  Patrick,  and  a 
church  was  built  there  which  is  named  Domnach  Patraic,  and 
Patrick  gave  him  a  blessing,  and  measured  out  a  rampart  in 

1  Bangor  in  Ulster.  2  Movilla  in  the  county  Down. 

3  In  the  parish  of  Enniskeen,  the  most  northern  part  of  Meath  diocese. 
See  Mr.  Hennessy's  note  to  his  translation  of  the  Tripartite  Life,  p.  391. 


30  Betha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  2;b — 28*. 


doruis  nacille.  7  rotharrngir  congenfitis  rig  immda  vad  foremnn.  ocus 
ordnige  laech  7  clerech  cumor.  conid  dasil  c\ann  colmam  7  sil  aeda 
slaine.  7  rob0mach<z/'  aenach  taillten.  cona.  biad  marb  fair  cobnzth. 
7  iw/abiad  acht  aenmarb  hirraith  airrth/r.  7  foraccaib  aimmaltoir 
hindomnach  pafraic  7  luid  pa/raic  assin  hi  cn'ch  h##  m//th  immen- 
doit  tire.  7  nitaraill  inard  macha  [p.  28  a]  donchursin.  7  foracaib 
sruthi  noeba  diamwwtir  itig  thalan. 


ISandsin  tallsat  tr/ar  doeb  mid  m^wdoit  ti're.  indara  bocc  nobid 
octabairt  use/  do  ^atraic.  7  tancator  dialuga  inethiuch.  Beccis 
asambronnaib  atmir.  Modebroth  ol  pa/raic  nidichlend  inbocc  fen 
baile  hita. 

Luid  \2ccum  cofiru  breg.  7  pn'tchwjtar  bMhir  nde  doib  cumor. 
7  robaist  7  rob<?#nach. 

Taraill  leiss  ath  cliath.  7  fuair  failte  moir  and.  7  atb^rt  \>atraic 
nosbiad  ordan  7  oirechwj-  isini[n]ud  sin  feib  comallfither  sin  beos. 

Rola  pafraic  cuairt  laigen.  7  prz'tchaid  br/thir  fide  doib.  ocus 
robaitsz'.  7  rosb^wnach  7  rocreitset  m«c  dunlaing  tra  don  chdimdid 
7  do  pa/ra/'<r  cuslogaib  mora.  7  doratsat  ariar  do.  conid  leo  inflai- 

dsin  cobrath. 


Drichd  barf  hua  ngarrchon  forcind  pa/raic  7  ingen  \oegain 
meic  neill  domnai  occa.  Diultaid  in  patraic  ocraith  inbir.  armaith 
fn'loegaire.  Doratsam  \m??iurro  cillme  failte  do.  7  romarb  aaenboin 
d(5  patraic.  7  dorat  aird(ig)  do  tucad  do  atig  inri-g.  Tune  dixit 
pa/ricws  fnsinmnai  fuine. 

A  ben  talaig  dom^ccan 

dotoet  torcc  mdr  do  orccan 

isdo  aibill  fasas  breo 

bid  beo  bid  slan  domaccan. 

INarbor 

asdech  do  lossa[ib]  talman 

ismarcan  mac  cilline 

isdech  bias  do  hib  garrchon. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  31 

front  of  the  door  of  the  church,  and  foretold  that  many  kings 
over  Ireland  would  spring  from  him,  and  many  noble  laymen 
and  clerics.  And  of  his  seed  are  the  Clann-Colmain,  and  the  seed 
of  Aed  Slaine.  And  Patrick  blessed  the  Assembly  of  Telltown,  so 
that  no  one  should  ever  be  killed  thereat,  and  that  only  one  should 
be  killed  at  Rath  Airthir,1  and  he  left  his  altar-stone  at  Domnach 
Patraic.  And  Patrick  went  from  thence  into  the  territory  of 
Ui  Meith  in  Mendait  Tire,  and  he  tarried  not  in  Armagh  at  that 
season,  and  he  left  holy  elders  of  his  people  at  Tech-talain. 

Then  three  of  the  Ui  Meith  Mendait  Tire  stole  (and  ate)  one 
of  the  two  goats  that  used  to  carry  water  for  Patrick,  and  came 
to  swear  a  lie.  It  bleated  from  the  bellies  of  the  three.  "  My 
debroth,"  said  Patrick,  "  the  goat  himself  hides  not  the  stead  where 
in  he  is." 

He  afterwards  went  to  the  men  of  Bregia  and  mightily 
preached  the  word  of  God  unto  them,  and  baptized  and  blessed 
them. 

He  visited  the  Ford  of  Hurdles  (Dublin),  and  found  great 
welcome  there,  and  Patrick  said  that  there  would  be  rank  and 
primacy  in  that  place,  even  as  shall  be  still  fulfilled. 

Patrick  went  a  round  of  the  Leinstermen,  and  preached  the 
word  of  God  to  them,  and  baptized  and  blessed  them ;  and  the 
sons  of  Dunlaing  with  mighty  hosts  believed  in  the  Lord  and  in 
Patrick,  and  they  gave  him  his  will,  wherefore  they  have  the  king 
ship  thence  for  ever. 

Drichu  was  king  of  Ui  Garrchon  before  Patrick,  and  a 
daughter  of  Loeguire,  son  of  Niall,  was  his  wife.  They  rejected 
Patrick  at  Rath  Inbir2  for  Loeguire's  sake,  but  Cillme  welcomed 
him  and  killed  his  only  cow  for  Patrick  and  gave  him  a  cup 
which  had  been  bestowed  upon  him  in  the  king's  house.  Then. 
Patrick  said  to  the  cooking  woman — 

"  O  woman,  cherish  thy  child ! 
A  great  boar  cometh  of  a  pigling. 
From  a  spark  groweth  a  flame. 
Thy  child  shall  be  alive,  shall  be  safe. 
The  corn 

That  is  best  of  earth's  plants 
Is  Marcan,  son  of  Cillme  : 
He  will  be  the  best  of  the  Ui  Garrchon." 

1  i.  e.,  The  Eastern  fort,  anglicised  Oristown,  Four  Masters,  A.  D.  784. 

2  At  Bray,  about  10  miles  south  of  Dublin. 


Betha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  28* 


Luid  iar«»z  pafratc  inosraigib  7  fothaigis  cella  7  «?»gbala  intib. 
7  dixit  nobetis  ordnige  Isech  7  clerech  dfb.  7  nibiad  furail  nacA 
cd[i]cid  form  cein  nobetis  dore'ir  pafrat'c. 

Celebrais  pa/rate  izrum  do  osraigib  imbelach  gabrdn.  7  forac- 
caib  martin  sruthi  occu  7  drem  diamwwtir  dii  hita  martharthech 
indi'u  amuig  raigne. 

Luid  pafrat'c  izrum  brbelach  ngabran  icn'ch  ma/wan.  7  pn'tcais 
donatuathaib  7  donacellaib  corocretset  7  robaitsz'  7  rosb^nach. 
(7f«j-  foraccaib  oes  ngr«id  occu  ocforcetul  7  occrabud. 

Orosiacht  mag  femin  docuirith^r  do  sengw^  mac  natfr^z'ch  .i. 
ri  mw/wan.  ferais  sengw^  failte  moir  fh'ss.  7  nosb^r  leis  diathig 
c^wice  caissel.  Pn'tcais  patraic  dd.  Teit  erlund  nabachla  tnana- 
chois  corocrechtnaz^  comor  hi.  Asb^rt  pafratc  cid  romba  centim- 
diten.  Andarlium  araen^w^  rope  cdir  nacretmi.  Albert  pafratc 
nitelcfider  fuil  isininudsa  ondiu  cobrath.  7  nfgonfaith^r  acht  oen 
ri  doneoch  gobus  tinud. 


Baistittur  sengw^  cuslogu  mora    immalle    fr/'ss.   b^«nachais 
patrat'c  sengw-y  forleicc  cat/^raigi  foranordnigtea  narig  iccaissel. 


B^«nachais  pafratc  doeogana^/  7  teitt  hinurmwwain.  pn'tchais 
pafratc  doib  7  nosbaist.  7  foraccaib  bf«na<:^tain  7  sobarthain  occu. 
Timcellaid  mwwain  uli  7  pn'tcruzzi  doib.  7  ronbaist  7  rosb^wnach. 
<?<T«J  facbuid  cella  7  clerchiu  occu.  Celebrais  pafratc  7  dosb^'r 
b^«nachtu  dichra  doib  ut  dixit. 

JSennacfif  de  formw^ain.  feraib  rmzcaib  mnaib 
bennackf  forintal/w«z'«  dobeir  tarad  daib. 
~Bennacht  forced  nindbas  gignes  forambrugaib1 
cennach  fore  cobair.  bennachf  de  form«wain. 
~Bennachf  fora  mbenda.  foralecca  lomma 
b<?«nacht  foranglenda.  benna^/  forandromma. 


1  Ms.  brigaib. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  33 

Patrick  afterwards  went  into  Ossory  and  founded  churches 
and  church-buildings  there,  and  said  that  there  would  be  noble 
laymen  and  clerics  of  the  men  of  Ossory,  and  that  no  province 
would  prevail  against  them  so  long  as  they  should  obey  Patrick. 

Patrick  afterwards  bade  farewell  to  the  men  of  Ossory  at 
Belach  Gabrain,1  and  he  left  with  them  Martin,  an  elder,  and 
a  party  of  his  people  where  Martharthech  is  at  this  day  in  Mag 
Raigne.8 

Patrick  passed  afterwards  by  Belach  Gabrain  into  the  pro 
vince  of  Munster,  and  preached  to  the  territories  and  to  the 
churches,  so  that  they  believed  and  were  baptized,  and  he  blessed 
them.  And  with  them  he  left  priests  instructing  (them)  and  prac 
tising  piety.  When  he  reached  Mag  Femin,3  he  was  received  by 
Oengus,  son  of  Natfraech,  King  of  Munster.  Oengus  made  him 
great  welcome,  and  brought  him  to  his  house  to  Cashel.  Patrick 
preached  to  him.  The  hinder  end  of  the  crozier  went  through  his 
foot,  and  wounded  it  greatly.  Patrick  said,  "  Why  didst  thou 
not  protect  thyself?"  "  Methought,"  saith  Oengus,  "that  it  was  a 
rite  of  the  religion."  Said  Patrick,  "  Blood  shall  not  be  shed  in 
this  place  from  to-day  till  Doom,  and  of  all  those  that  shall  suc 
ceed  thee  but  one  king  shall  be  slain." 

Oengus  was  baptized  with  great  hosts  along  with  him.  Patrick 
blessed  Oengus  upon  Lia  Cathraige  (Cathraige's  stone),  whereon 
the  kings  were  appointed  to  office  at  Cashel. 

Patrick  bade  farewell  to  the  Eoganacht  and  went  into  Ormond. 
Patrick  preached  to  them  and  baptized  them,  and  left  with  them 
blessing  and  prosperity.  He  goes  the  rounds  of  all  the  Munster- 
men,  and  preached  to  them  and  baptized  them  and  blessed  them, 
and  leaves  churches  and  clerics  with  them.  Patrick  bade  them 
farewell  and  gave  them  a  fervent  blessing,  ut  dixit — 

God's  blessing  on  Munster,  men,  children,  women. 

Blessing  on  the  land  which  gives  them  fruit, 

Blessing  on  each  wealth  which  is  brought  forth  on  their 

marches 

Without  any  need  (?)  of  help.     God's  blessing  on  Munster. 
Blessing  on  their  peaks,  on  their  bare  flagstones, 
Blessing  on  their  glens,  blessing  on  their  ridges, 


1  Gowran  Pass  in  the  County  of  Kilkenny. 

2  A  plain  in  the  barony  of  Kells,  County  Kilkenny. 

3  A  plain  in  Tipperary. 


34  Bet  ha  Phatraic,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  28a— 28b. 


gainem  lir  folongaib  ropat  lin  atellaig. 
ifanaib  irredib.  islebtib  imbendaib.     b.d. 

Tanic  patratc  iarsin  do  ard  macha  labr/Mir  inangil.  7 
coraith  dari  .i.  fer  soimm  oirmitnech  boi  inoirth^raib  .i.  dare  mac 
fmdcrK&/a  mei'c  eogam  meic  niallain.  dorats#/#  inad  ardeclazrc  do 
patraic  bale  hita  in  ferta  indiu. 

Otharnic  inre'cles  dochumtach.  7  rofhas  afe"r  cumor.  rucc  gilla 
dare  aech  maith  isinrecles  dochum  indfeoir  diguind.  Rothoccraid 
sin  cumor  do  patraic  7  tanic  ingilla  iarnabarach  isinmatain.  7  fuair 
aech  marb  isinrecles.  Dochuaid  ira  ingilla  ass  cutoirsech.  7 
roindis  doddre  aech  domarb^  don  chlerech.  dixit  dare,  inclerech 
fen  do  marbad  ind.  Atbail  dare  foc^i/oir  lasinmbre/^irsin.  dixit  setig 
dare,  ise  fochund  inbaissea  intancn'de  dorigne  fh'sin  clerech.  tiagar 
coluath  7  tabar  ariar  do.  Docotar  natechta  copatrax  7  atchotar 
do  inni  forcoemnacair  ind.  senais  pa/rate  usce.  7  dosbeir  darsin  ech 
7  darsinfer.  7  atregut  diblinib  abas. 


dixit  dare  fri  di'is  [p.  28.b]  diamwwtir.  berid  mo  chori  humai  don 
clerech.  Atb^rt  pafraic  iartorar^/u  inchori  dd.  graticum  .i.  deo 
gratias  ago.  larfaigis  dare  diathimthmb  cid  atb^rt  inclerech.  gra- 
tiam  olnatimthmg.  ismaith  inluach  cori  umai  sin  ol  dare,  ercid  ocus 
tabraid  vad  forciila.  Dob^rar  incori  forcula  o  patnzzi:.  gratiam  ol- 
patraic.  larfaigis  dare  donatimthmb.  cid  atrubat'rt  pafraic  icathabairt 
vad.  ingratiam  ce?na  olsiat.  isnf  maith  acasww  inbriaM^r  sin  oldare. 
ingratiam  ocabm'M  vad.  ingratiam  ocathabairt  do. 


Teit  dare  f^n  lasincori.  7  dorat  are*r  dopatrai'c  conid  andsin 
tucc  d(5  aninud  hita  ard  macha  indiu.  Ard  sailech  ira  aainm  cdsin. 
7  t&t  dare  iarw/ra  timchell  inferaind. 

isinoidche  iarsin  atrc>«nairc  patratc  hifhfs  .i.  uictor  aingel  dp- 
thidecht  chuice.  cosruthi  erenn  maroen  ris.  curastoraind  incat^raig 
inafiadwawe  7  inad  intempuil  7  nacuicni  7  intige  aiged.  7  tete 
dessel  narathai  7  pa/raze  inadiaid  <wzabachaill  isu  nalaim.  7  smthi 
eienn  occlassc^/ul  imbe. 


Rosciimtaig  izrum  pafraic  incat^raig  fomndus  sin  am^7  tarfas 
do.  7  atb<?rt  intaingeal  ris.  bid  imda  rath  de"  isininudsa.  7  force^oen 


On  ike  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  35 


Sand  of  sea  under  ships  be  their  hearths'  number, 
On  slopes,  on  plains,  on  mountains,  on  peaks ! 

Thereafter  Patrick  came  to  Armagh  at  the  angel's  word,  and 
he  arrived  at  Rath  Daire,  the  fort  of  Daire,  a  wealthy,  venerable 
man,  who  was  in  Oriors,  to  wit,  Daire,  son  of  Findchad,  son  of 
Eogan,  son  of  Niallan.  He  gave  a  site  for  a  high  church  to 
Patrick  in  the  stead  where  the  Ferta  is  to-day.  When  the  build 
ing  of  the  close  was  finished,  and  its  grass  grew  greatly,  Daire's 
gillie  brought  his  good  horse  into  the  close  to  the  grassplot  (?) 
This  vexed  Patrick  greatly,  and  the  gillie  came  on  the  morrow  in 
the  morning,  and  found  his  horse  dead  in  the  close.  The  gillie 
went  away  sorrowfully,  and  told  Daire  that  his  horse  was  killed  by 
the  cleric.  Daire  ordered  the  cleric  himself  to  be  killed  for  it. 
Daire  died  anon  at  that  word.  Said  Daire's  wife,  "  The  cause  of 
this  death  is  the  wrong  which  he  wrought  against  the  cleric.  Go 
quickly  and  give  him  his  will."  The  messengers  went  to  Patrick, 
and  they  told  him  what  had  been  done.  Patrick  sained  water  and 
puts  it  over  the  horse  and  over  the  man,  and  both  arise  from  death. 

Said  Daire  to  twain  of  his  people,  "  Take  my  caldron  of  copper 
to  the  cleric."  Patrick  said  when  the  caldron  had  come  to  him, 
"  Gratzacham,"  that  is,  Deogratias  ago.  Daire  asked  of  his  servants 
what  the  cleric  had  said.  "  Gratzacham,"  say  the  servants.  "  That 
is  a  good  price  for  a  copper  caldron !"  saith  Daire,  "  go  ye  and 
bring  it  back  from  him."  The  caldron  is  brought  back  from 
Patrick.  "  Gratzacham,"  saith  Patrick.  Daire  asked  of  the  servants 
what  Patrick  said  at  the  taking  away  of  the  caldron  from  him. 
"  The  same  gratzacham"  say  they.  "  The  word  is  a  good  one  with 
him,"  saith  Daire,  "  the  gratzacham  on  taking  it  from  him  and  the 
gratzacham  in  giving  it  to  him." 

Daire  himself  went  with  his  caldron,  and  gave  Patrick  his 
will,  bestowing  on  him  the  stead  wherein  Armagh  is  at  this  day 
(now  Ard  Sailech  had  been  its  name  till  then),  and  Daire  afterwards 
went  round  the  land. 

On  the  night  thereafter  Patrick  beheld  in  a  vision  Victor,  an 
angel,  coming  to  him  with  Ireland's  elders  along  with  him,  and 
they  marked  out  the  city  in  his  presence,  and  the  place  of  the 
temple  and  of  the  kitchen  and  of  the  guest-house,  and  he  went 
right-hand-wise  round  the  rampart,  and  Patrick  behind  him  with 
his  bachall  Isu — Jesu's  crozier — in  his  hand,  and  Ireland's  elders 
a-chanting  around  him. 

Patrick  afterwards  built  the  city  in  the  same  wise  as  it 
had  appeared  to  him.  And  the  angel  said  to  him  :  "  Abundant 


36  Betha  Phatraic,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  28b. 


dogena1  maith  and.  Atb^rt  intaingel  iri  patraic  hiccfa  dia  erutsa 
.xii.  cedfcasatluwhid  sund.  7  morfessiur  ce^adardain.  cein  maras 
ires  forpthi  nahddine. 

ISlia  tuirem  7  aisne's  ce^ahd^rna  patraic  dofertaib  7  domir- 
bulib  imon  macha  macuairt. 

Tanic  patraic  iarsin  doroim  intresfecht  cotucc  tassi  poll  ocus 
petazr.  7  zepain  7  laurint  7  martirech  immda  archena.  7  minda  ocus 
libra  7  anart  cofuil  cm/  fair.  7  rocumtaigtea  ocpatraic  ifoss  .i. 
iscn'n  poil  7  petair. 

Luid  pa/razi:  iarsin  indithrub  .i.  hicruachan  oigle.  foindsamail 
moysi  7  helii.  7  crw/.  coroain  xl.  lathi  7  xl.  aidche  isinluccsin.  ocus 
iiii.  clocha  imbe  7  cloich  foi.  ama/roain  moysi  isleib  sina  octidnocul 
do  inrechta.  vair  roptar  cosmaile  h<5  ilmodaib  .i.  moysi  7  patraz'c. 
c.  xx.  mblia<&7*  ana3s  diblinib.  Toisech  popwz'/  cechtar  de.  roain- 
sct  .xl.  naidche  islebtib.  At  indreba.  7  anadnocuil  diblinib. 


Orosiacht  ira  comfocus  [sollamain]  nacasc.  rolinfad]  insliab 
fair  dodemnaib  indelbaib  en  dub.  Canaid  patraic  psalmu  escaine 
forru.  7  ciid.  7  benaid  achlocc  corremuid  bernd  ind.  ut  dixit 
patricius. 

Hitagar  dul  icruaich  cuirr  draing  cencrabuid  armochind 
romgab  ecla  re  s//  sell.  .x.  c.  cend  ictaccra  frimm. 


Techit  nademnu  fac^e/oir  ead  radaircc  fi?rsinfairgi.  7  nosbaidet 
fen  isininudsin.  7  nitaraill  demun  tir  nerenn  osin  cocend  .uii.  lathi. 
7  uii.  mis  7  uii.  mbli'adan. 

Tanic  iamm  slog  mor  doainglib  irrer^tu  en  ngel.  corchansat 
ceol  nuasal  donchomdid  dochomdidnad  patraic.  Atb^rat  fairend 
comad  incomlinsin  nob^radsom  lais  docum  nime. 

ISandsin  atb^rt  uictor  aingel  fn'ssium.  Erig  cotm««tir  arsol- 
lawain  nacasc.  dixit  patricius.  Ni  rag  orumcraidet  corumdi[g]tider. 

1  Ms.  dodcna.  2  Jot  over  n. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  37 

will  God's  grace  be  in  this  place  and  upon  every  one  who'  will  do 
good  therein."  The  angel  said  to  Patrick,  "  God  will  heal  for  thee 
here  twelve  persons  every  Saturday  and  seven  every  Thursday,  so 
long  as  the  perfect  faith  of  the  people  abideth." 

Overmuch  it  is  to  recount  and  declare  all  the  wonders  and 
miracles  which  Patrick  wrought  round  about  Armagh. 

Thereafter  Patrick  went  to  Rome  for  the  third  time,  and  he 
brought  relics  of  Paul  and  Peter  and  Stephen  and  Lawrence  and 
many  martyrs  besides,  and  reliquaries  and  books  and  a  sheet  with 
Christ's  blood  thereon,  and  Patrick  set  up  here  in  Ireland  the 
shrine  of  Paul  and  Peter. 

Thereafter  Patrick  gat  him  into  the  wilderness,  that  is,  to  Crua- 
chan  Oigle,1  after  the  manner  of  Moses  and  Elias  and  Christ,  and 
for  forty  days  and  forty  nights  he  fasted  in  that  place,  having  four 
stones  about  him  and  a  stone  under  him,  even  as  Moses  fasted  on 
Mount  Sinai  when  the  Law  was  delivered  unto  him.  For  they, 
Moses  and  Patrick,  were  alike  in  many  ways.  One  hundred  and 
twenty  years  was  the  age  of  them  both.  Each  was  a  leader  of 
people:  forty  nights  on  mountains  they  fasted,  and  the  burial- 
places  of  both  are  uncertain. 

Now  when  [the  solemn  festival  of]  Easter  was  at  hand,  the 
mountain  was  filled  against  him  with  devils  in  the  shapes  of 
black  birds.  Patrick  sings  psalms  of  cursing  against  them,  and 
he  weeps  and  strikes  his  bell,  until  a  gap  broke  in  it,  ut  dixti 
Patridus — 

I  fear  to  go  to  the  round  (?)  Rick :  bands  without  piety  (are) 

against  me, 
Fear  has  seized  me  for  a  time,  ten  hundred  heads   (are) 

contending  with  me. 

The  devils  flee  at  once  upon  the  sea,  as  far  as  eye  can  reach, 
and  drown  themselves  in  that  place,  and  no  devil  visited  the  land 
of  Ireland  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  seven  days  and  seven 
months  and  seven  years. 

Then  there  came  a  great  host  of  angels  in  the  shapes  of 
white  birds,  and  they  sang  noble  music  to  the  Lord  to  comfort 
Patrick.  Some  say  that  it  is  an  equal  number  he  will  take  with 
him  to  heaven. 

Then  the  angel  Victor  said  to  him,  "  Go  to  thy  people  for  the 
solemn  festival  of  Easter."  Patrick  said,  "  Since  I  was  tormented, 


Erne's  Rick,  now  Croagh  Patrick,  a  mountain  in  Mayo. 


38  Eetha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  28b — 


7  cotartar  dam  .uii.  nidche  onchomdid  .i.  cipe  doferaib  erenn  dogne 
aithrigi  rembas.  cid  fri  re  envaire.  narohiatta  iffernd  fair  imbrath 
ocus  <wzaroaittrebat  echtrmnd  inindsi.  7  coti  muir  tarsi  .uii.  mbliadna 
riambrath.  7  corasaerursa  morfessiur  ce^adardain.  7  xii.  ce^a 
sathuzzhid  arphianuib  iffzrnd.  7  cipe  gebus  mimund  hillou  aetsechta 
comb  nemidach.  amal  dorarngertsa  dosechnall.  7  cotz/<:arsa  apian- 
aib  iff/hid,  illou  bratha  morfessiur  ce^a  brodhirne  domchass- 
ul  doneoch  nodonaidlife  7  corup  me  fen  bus  bn'Mem  imbrath 
doferaib  ere«w.  Dobertar  duit  indsin  uii  arintaingel.  vair  rotguid- 
ester  muntei  nime  uii  erut.  l&etmacht  forinrig  olpatraic.  7  [or 
inmz^tir. 


Benais  \>atraic  achlocc  cocualatar  fir  erenn  iitr  biu  7  marbu. 
Bennachais  iarsin  firu  erenn  asin  cruaich.  7  ordaigid  morfessiur 
dia  muniir  [2Qa]  imbethaid  icoimet  fer  nerenn  .i.  fer  icrwachan 
ailge.  7  fer  imbeind  gulban.  7  fer  isliab  bethad.  7  fer  isliab  chua 
ocus  inlanomain  icluain  hiraird.  7  domangort  slebi  slangai.1 


Dotoet  doncruaich  iarsin  7  celebrais  inchaisc  ocachad  fobair. 

Luid  pafraic  7  brigit  imaille  fhss  do  ess  ruaid  7  adcobair 
[eclais]  and  7  congbail  du  hita  disiurt  patraic  indfu.  Diultais 
carpr^  mac  neill  friss  7  rofaid  dis  diamwwtir  dogabail  alama  .i. 
carbacc  7  cuangzw  ananmunna.  Nimaith  andogni  olpatraic.  dia- 
leicthea  damsa  congbail  sund.  robad  tamzwe  roma  letha  w»atibir 
trethi.  mocatha/rsi  c<?»aessruaid  tr^nalar.  7  robad  doclannasu  beti's 
comorbada  innte.  Rohop  immorro  cairprc  sin.  F^rsith  <eda  tra 
rob^nach  pafraic  conall  mac  n&ll.  isandsin  dofutitfs  lama  pa/rate 


1  the  g  is  dotted. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  39 


I  will  not  go  till  I  am  satisfied,  and  until  seven  things  are  given  to 
me  by  the  Lord,  namely,  that  at  Doomsday  hell  be  not  shut  upon 
whichsoever  of  the  men  of  Ireland  repenteth  before  death,  were  it 
even  for  the  space  of  a  single  hour ;  that  outlanders  may  not  inhabit 
this  island;  that  the  sea  may  come  over  it  seven  years  before 
Doomsday ;  that  seven  persons  every  Thursday  and  twelve  every 
Saturday  I  may  free  from  the  pains  of  hell ;  that  whoever  shall 
sing  my  hymn  on  the  day  of  his  death  may  be  a  dweller  in  heaven, 
as  I  promised  unto  Sechnall ;  and  that  on  Doomsday  I  may  bring 
from  the  pains  of  hell  ...  for  every  hair  of  my  chasuble,  seven 
of  those  that  shall  visit  it ;  and  that  I  myself  may  be  judge  over 
the  men  of  Ireland  on  Doomsday.  "  All  this  shall  be  granted  to 
thee,"  said  the  angel,  "  for  all  the  family  of  heaven  have  prayed 
for  thee."  "  A  blessing  upon  the  King  [of  heaven],"  said  Patrick, 
"and  upon  the  family  [of  heaven]." 

Patrick  rang  his  bell,  so  that  all  the  men  of  Ireland,  both 
living  and  dead,  heard  it.  Thereafter  he  blessed  the  men  of  Ire 
land  from  the  Rick,  and  he  ordered  seven  persons  of  his  people 
in  his  lifetime  to  guard  the  men  of  Ireland,  to  wit,  a  man  at 
Cruachan  Aigle,  and  a  man  at  Benn  Gulbain,1  and  a  man  in  Sliab 
Bethad,3  and  a  man  in  Sliab  Cua,3  and  the  married  pair  at  Cluain 
Iraird4  and  Domangort  of  Sliab  Slangai.5 

He  went  from  the  Rick  after  this,  and  celebrated  the  Easter 
at  Achad  Fobair.6 

Patrick  and  Brigit  along  with  him  went  to  Essruaid,7  and  he 
was  minded  to  erect  a  church  and  a  manse  there  at  a  place  wherein 
to-day  is  Disert  Patraic.  Cairbre,  son  of  Niall,  rejected  him,  and 
he  sent  two  of  his  people  to  seize  his  hand,  Carbaic  and  Cuangus 
(were)  their  names.  "  What  thou  hast  done  is  not  good,"  said 
Patrick ;  "  hadst  thou  permitted  me  to  settle  here,  my  city,  with 
its  [river  of]  Essruaid  through  the  middle  thereof,  would  have 
been  a  second  Rome  of  Latium  with  its  Tiber  flowing  through 
it,  and  thy  descendants  would  have  been  (my)  successors  there 
in."  But  Coirpre  refused  that.  Now  Patrick  blessed  Conall,  son 


now  Binbulbin,  a  hill  in  the  County  of  Sligo. 

now  Slieve  Beagh  in  Ulster. 

now  Slieve  Gua,  in  the  County  of  Waterford. 

Clonard  in  Meath. 

now  Slieve  Donard,  in  the  County  of  Down. 

now  Achagower. 

Assaroe,  a  cataract  on  the  river  Erne. 


40  Betha  Phatraic,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  29*. 

[forcenn]  fergusa.  7  ba  ma^/ad  hcono.ll  innisin.  ut  dixit  patricius. 


Genfid  m^cfan]  dia  fine 
bidsui  bidfaid  bidfile 
inmain  lespaire  glan  gle 
nadebe'rai  immarbe. 
arbrigit— 

Mtfccan  ethni  toebgile 
sech  isbal  isblathugw^/ 
colomb  cille  can  cenon 
nirborom  arathugud. 

larsin  tra  robmnach  patrai'c  conall  mac  neill.  7  dora[r]ngert 
rigi  for  ein'/m  vad.  7  ordnige  loech  7  clerech.  7  foraccaib  ben- 
nachtu  foradainiu  7  forainberu.  7  tanic  iarum  hitir  neogain.  conid 
annsin  rogell  ^atraic  7  sechnall  alog  fh'muiredach  mac  eogain 
dianairaled  foraatha/r  cretem  dodia.  Cialdg  armuiredech.  Bid 
vait  rigi  cobrath  ar  sechnall.  Dogen  amlaztf  armuiredach.  Doro- 
nad  zmlaid.  7  rocreit  eogan  dodia  7  dop<z/ra/c. 


Luid  ^atraic  assin  cohailech  narig.  conw^b^nach  7  foracaib 
aleicc  and.  7  dorarnger  rigi  7  ordan  for  ein>z#  ahailech.  7  dorat 
gaiscid  foreogan  con&maccu.  ut  dixit  frm. 

Bendac^/  forsnatuatha  dobiur  obelach  ratha 

robet  dochiniud  eogain  deoraid  cola  mbrdtha. 

Cein  bess  macha  fothoraib  bvaid  catha  laferaib 

cend  sluaig  fer  fail  dia  magin  saigid  daib  fbrcech  teltaig. 

Sfl  eogain  maic  neill  sin1  abrigit  ban 

acht  [condernat  maith]  flaith  uadib  cobrath. 


ut  dixit  brigit. 

Armbennacht  arndis  foreogqn  mac 

forcach  geinfess  vad  acht  corup  vaig  [di]arreir. 


read  sen  ? 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  41 


of  Niall,  on  Sith  Aeda.1  Then  Patrick's  hands  were  falling  on 
the  head  of  Fergus,  and  Conall  had  wonder  thereat,  ut  dixit 
Patridus — 

"  A  man-child  shall  be  born  of  his  family  : 

He  will  be  a  sage,  a  prophet,  a  poet. 

Dear  the  luminary,  pure,  bright, 

Who  will  never  utter  falsehood. 
Saith  Brigit— 

Man-child  of  Ethne,  the  white-sided, 

He  is  bright,  he  is  a  blossoming  (?). 

Colomb  Cille,  fair  without  blemish, 

It  was  not  oversoon  to  perceive  him. 

Now  after  that  Patrick  blessed  Conall,  son  of  Niall,  and  he 
foretold  that  sovranty  over  Ireland  (would  descend)  from  him,  and 
also  noble  laics  and  clerics,  and  he  left  a  blessing  on  his  people 
and  on  his  rivermouths,  and  he  afterwards  came  into  Tyrone,  and 
there  Patrick  and  Sechnall  promised  a  reward  to  Muiredach, 
son  of  Eogan,  if  he  would  prevail  on  his  father  to  believe  in 
God.  "  What  reward  ?"  saith  Muiredach.  "  Kingship  shall  be 
from  thee  for  ever,"  saith  Sechnall.  "Thus  will  I  do,"  said 
Muiredach ;  and  thus  was  it  done,  and  Eogan  believed  in  God 
and  in  Patrick. 

Patrick  fared  thence  to  Ailech  of  the  Kings,2  and  he  blessed  it, 
and  left  his  flagstone  there,  and  foretold  that  the  kingship  and 
supremacy  of  Ireland  would  be  out  of  Ailech,  and  he  left  blessing 
of  valour  upon  Eogan  and  his  sons,  saying  to  them — 

"  A  blessing  on  the  territories  I  give  from  Belach  Ratha : 
There  shall  be  of  Eogan's  race  pilgrims  till  Doomsday : 
So  long  as  plain  shall  be  under  crops,  victory  of  battle  shall 

be  with  their  men : 
The  head  of  the  host  of  the  men  of  Fal  (be)  to  their  place : 

power  (?)  to  them  over  every  hearth : 
The  race  of  Eogan,  son  of  Niall,  sain,  O  fair  Brigit ! 
Provided  they  do  good,  a  king  [will  be]  of  them  for  ever." 

Brigit  said — 

"  The  blessing  of  us  both  upon  Eogan,  son  of  Niall, 
Upon  every  one  who  shall  be  bom  of  him,  provided  they 
be  wholly  at  our  will." 

1  now  Mullaghshee,  at  Ballyshannon. 
*  Now  Elagh  in  Inishowen. 


42.  Hct ha  Phatraic,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  29* 


Luid  pii/raic  iarsin  hicrich  ulad  co  maginis.  cwndindsin  dorala1 
ir  duine  angbuid  nobid  ocslat  7  ocmarbad  nacuitechtad  .i. 
cuill  aainm.  ut  dixit  fr/amwwtir.  iseseo  intailcend.  tiagum 
cotard/////  amttf  fair.  d«j  infurUt7;/faidea  adea  do.  Tucsat  \zium 
for  diamwwtir  fivfvat.  am<;/  marb.  diatodhwjcad  dorvz/Tw/i:.  garban 
din  ainm  infhirsin.  ice  duin  oliat  iripiz/rj:/<;  infersa  diarmw/tir 
ut  dixit  pn/ridus. 


Bratt  garban 

$ft/bias  forcolaind  marban 

acht  atfessar  duib  inmo 

ise  garban  bias  fd. 

Rolaiset  am//;/ter  indsin  inbratt  do  agaid  garban  <w*id  aml<;/«/ 
[fjvarutar  he  marb.  Rocretset  t/w.  nagditi.  7  robaitsit.  7  rotod/^- 
cit  garban  abas  it  ,-abr/Mir  \kitraic. 

ITlia  tra  twream  7  aisnes  andorigne  dia  dofhertaib  7  mirbulib 
frnntii  noemp<;//'<7/i-.  vair  .uii.  libair.  Ix.  roscr/'bat  dib  7  cided  on 
nidat  uli. 

Rosamlad  tra.  \*itmic  f; v'huasalat^rjchaib  .i.  firoilithrech  ce'Jus 
ani(7/  abraham.  cendais  dilgudach  am(7/  moysi.  salmcetlaid  molta 
de  he  ama/  dabid  [mac]  iese.  istud  ecnai  anu/  solmuin.  losti/r 
tog(Z/'(/e  fr/'foccra  firinde  amj/  pol  nasp<7/.  fer  kin  dorath  7  dodeol- 
aidcrA/  inspir/a  no73  am<2/  coin  mac  zepideii.  leo  armrtmaire  7 
calmatwj  fr/tabairt  corad  7  eccraibdech  intsa^gail  documm  nirse 
7  cretim.3  nathir  arthuailchi  7  tretk7/n  fr/Tomtin  cocha.  hamuis. 
colum  cendais  ailgen  oduthrj^/  cr/'de  7  obr^Air  f<?rpthi  7  ognim 
firen.  inog  s^t^rach  donduilenu/);  iar  crabud  7  umaloit  7  f<?rcetail 
feib  innises  soch<?/</e. 


Bahiseo  immurro  riag^/  achrabuid  .i.  nogebed  inuli  salmu 
,,'vanimnaib  7  cantacib  7  abcolips.  cc.  7  ernaigthi  aile  cerA- 
lai.  Nobait&v/  nop/^ntchad  nochelebrad  natratha  iarnacoras. 
No[p.  2gb]-hidbrad  corp  crw/  7  afuil.  Dobcred  sigen  nacr0chi 
daraagi7/i/  coba  Ct?V  ontrath  coraile.  ISinc^Cna  fr/thaire  na- 
luxichi  nochanad  cet  salm  7  dognid  .cc.  slechtain.  isin[f5]rithaire 


1  The  facsimile  has  doralala,  *  kg.  cretmi  ? 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  43 


Thereafter  Patrick  fared  into  the  province  of  Ulster  to 
inis,1  and  there  Patrick  met  a  ruthless  man  who  was  spoiling 
and  killing  the  congregation — MacCuill  was  his  name,  ut  dixit  to 
his  people:  "  This  is  the  Adzehead,  let  us  go  and  make  an  attack 
upon  him,  to  see  if  perchance  his  god  will  help  him."  They  after 
wards  brought  one  of  their  people  upon  a  bier,  as  though  he  were 
dead,  to  be  raised  from  death  by  Patrick.  Garvdn  was  the  name 
of  that  man.  "  Heal  for  us,"  they  say,  "  this  man  of  our  family." 
Ut  dixit  Patricius— 

Garvan's  mantle 

Shall  be  upon  a  dead  man's  body, 

But  this,  besides,  shall  be  known  to  you, 

It  is  Garvan  that  shall  be  under  it. 

Then  his  people  put  the  mantle  off  GarvaVs  face  and  thus  they 
found  him,  dead.  So  the  heathen  believed  and  were  baptized. 
and  Garvan  was  raised  to  life  from  death  by  Patrick's  word. 

What  God  wrought  of  wonders  and  miracles  for  the  holy 
Patrick  are  over-many  to  recount  or  declare  ;  for  there  were  sixty 
books  and  seven  written  of  them,  and  still  they  are  not  all  (set 
forth). 

Now  Patrick  hath  been  likened  to  the  patriarchs — for  first. 
(he  was)  a  true  pilgrim,  like  Abraham;  meek,  forgiving,  like 
Moses ;  a  psalmist  of  God's  praise  was  he  like  David  son  of 

Jesse  *    a of  wisdom,   like   Solomon ;   a   chosen   vessel 

to  proclaim  the  truth,  like  apostle  Paul;  a  man  full  of  the 
grace  and  loving-kindness  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  like  John  son  of 
Zebedee ;  a  lion  in  strength  and  courage  to  bring  the  impious  and 
wicked  of  the  world  to  faith  and  belief;  a  serpent  in  cunning  and 
prudence  for  observing  every  attack ;  a  dove,  mild  and  gentle  in 
heart's  desire  and  perfect  word  and  righteous  deed ;  a  laborious 
servant  to  the  Creator  as  to  piety,  and  humility,  and  instruction 
in  every  goodness,  as  many  relate. 

Now,  this  was  the  rule  of  his  piety,  to  wit,  he  used  to  sing 
all  the  psalms  with  their  hymns  and  canticles  and  apocalypse, 
and  other  prayers  every  day.  He  used  to  baptize,  to  preach,  and 
to  celebrate  the  hours  according  to  their  due  order :  he  used  to 
offer  Christ's  Body  and  his  Blood.  He  used  to  make  the  sign  of 
the  cross  over  his  face  a  hundred  times  from  one  (canonical) 
hour  to  another.  In  the  first  watch  of  the  night  he  used  to  sing 
a  hundred  psalms  and  make  two  hundred  genuflexions.  In 


•  Now  Lccale  in  the  County  Down. 


44  Betha  Phatraic,  Lelar  Brccc,  p.  29**. 


inusa  uar.  isintress  frtthatre  iteoir.  incethrumad  foniir 
luimm  7  cloch  fdchind  7  culchi  fliuch  imbi.  Noordned  nocosm&d 
Twcoisrecad  nobennzchad  nohiccad  clamu  ocus  dallu  7  baccachu 
7  bodra  7  amlabru  7  aes  ce<r^£  tedma  archena.  no  indarbud  demnu 
not6dusc&d  marbu. 

Othanic  tra  czmiadedenchu  do  pafraic  diamboi  ocsabull 
himaginis  hicr/'ch  ulad.  tic  forawair  do  ard  macha  combzd  ind 
atbelad.  Atchi  inmwmi  forlassad  arachind  7  niloisced  inteni 
inmuine.  ocus  uictor  aingel  icaacalkzksium  ass.  ut  dixit  friss. 

Nidechais  doardmacha  vair  dorarngertais 
do  maccu  trechim  combad  accu  thesergi. 

tune  dixit  patricius — 

Maid  sund  bes  mesergi  ard  macha  mochell 
nilem  comus  mo  saire  isi  indaire  choitchend. 

dixit  patricius — 

Ard  macha  nocharaindsi  inmain  treb  inmain  tulach 
diin  Cftrtathig  manimsi  bid  fas  emain  nacurad. 

dixit  angelus — 

Uair  issunna  thesergi  rotbia  ni  bus  ferr 
eriu  uli  o  ind  cofond  ardmacha  dochell. 

.i.  dorath  7  tordan  7  toirech«j  inard  macha  olintaingel  cidsund 
bess  tesergi. 

Rofaid  pafrat'c  aspire/  iarsin  7  rogab  comaind  7  sacarbaic 
dolaim  tassaig  escwz'p.  iarmbre#A  bvada  7  coscair  lais  dodomun 
ocus  demun  7  dualchib.  7  rofaid  aspirw/  cwincoimdid  diand^rnai 
fognam  7  mfltnidecht  isnatalmawtaib. 

Toet  sldg  mdr  do  aingliu  nime  dia[f]restul  cosollsi  mair.  con- 
idiatsin  rochometsat  incorp  isinoidche  sin.  cocualatar  sruthi  erenn 
clascetul  nanaingel  isinoidchesin.  Tancater  sruthi  erenn  .xff. 
aidchi  cosalmu  7  imannaib.  7  nithesta  form  intsollsi  natA  inbolad 
angelacda.  acht  bdi  isintir  uli  cocend  mbli&dne. 

Roas  cosnam  mor  etir  airgiallu  7  ulltu  imoncorp.  contracht 
gabul  fairrge1  etorru.  cona.ma.rba  each  dib  acele.  Ato«naicset 

— • • — ! 

1  (f return  quoddam  quod  collum  lovis  vocatur'— Lib.  Armach.  8.  b.  a. 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Patrick.  45 

the  second  watch  (he  used  to  be)  in  cold  water  :  the  third  watch  in 
contemplation :  the  fourth  watch  on  the  cold  clay,  with  a  stone 
under  his  head  and  a  wet  quilt  about  him.  He  used  to  ordain, 
anoint,  and  consecrate.  He  used  to  bless  and  cure  lepers,  the  blind, 
the  lame,  the  deaf,  the  dumb,  and  folk  of  every  disease  besides. 
He  used  to  cast  out  devils ;  he  used  to  raise  the  dead  to  life. 

Now  when  Patrick  came  to  the  ending  days,  while  he  was  at 
Saball  in  Mag-inis  in  the  province  of  Ulster,  he  sets  out  on  the 
road  to  Armagh  that  he  might  die  therein.     He  sees  the  brake 
blazing  before  him,  and  the  fire  was  not  burning  the  brake,  and 
Victor  an  angel  (was)  speaking  to  him  thereout,  ut  dixit  to  him — 
"  Thou  shalt  not  go  to  Armagh,  for  thou  promisedst 
To  Trechem's  sons  that  with   them  thy  resurrection 

would  be." 
Then  Patrick  said— 

"  If  here  be  my  resurrection,  Armagh  will  be  my  church  : 
My  freedom  is  not  in  my  own  power,  it  is  the  common 

bondage." 
Dixit  Patricius : 

Armagh  I  used  to  love :  a  dear  household,  a  dear  hill, 
A  fortwhich  my  soul  haunteth.     Emain  of  the  heroes 

shall  be  waste. 
Dixit  angelus : 

Since  thy  resurrection  is  here,  thou  shalt  have  what 

is  better — 

All  Ireland  from  top  to  bottom,  Armagh  thy  church, 
that  is    «  Thy  grace,  and  thy  dignity,  and  thy  primacy  (will  be)  in 
Armagh,"  said  the  angel,  "though  thy  resurrection  will  be  here." 
Thereafter  Patrick  sent    (forth)  his  spirit,  and    he  received 
communion  and  sacrifice  from  Bishop  Tassach's  hand,  after  gain- 
in-  victory  and  triumph  over    the    world    and    the    Devil   and 
vices.     And  he  sent  his  spirit  to  the  Lord,  for  whom  he  had  . 
service  and  warfare  in  earthly  things. 

A  -reat  host  of  heaven's  angels  came  with  a  great  light  to 
attend  him,  wherefore  it  was  they  that  waked  the  body  on 
night.     And   Ireland's   elders   heard   the  quiring  of  the  angels 
on'that   night.      Ireland's    elders   came   for  twdve  nigh  s  wh 
psalms  and  hymns,  and  the  light  and  the  angelic  odour 
them  not,  but  abode  in  the  whole  land  to  a  year's  end. 

There  grew  up  a  great  strife  between  the  men  of  One] 
the  men  of  Ulster  about  the  body,  and  an  arm  of  the  sea  arose 


46  Betha   Phatraic,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  29 b. 

indsin  airrthzwr  da  dam  allaid  rempu  cofhcn  eterru  7  incorp  and. 
tancatar  rempu  coardmachai.  7  roptar  budig  dodia. 


tra  patraic  conznoir  7  ormitin.  cofhertaib  7  mir- 
bull  cechalathidib1  hindun  lethglassi. 

Ocus  cidmor  aanoir  coleicc  fiado[i]nib.  bid  mou  aanoir  indail 
bm/y&a.  du  imbia  ama/  cech  pnmasp<?/  ocbr^emn^r^/  forfiru  erenn 
diarop^n'tchwjter  conid  andsin  tatnigfess  am<z/  gmn.  inoentaid 
noem  7  noemog  indomain.  inoentazi/  uasalathrach  7  fatha.  inoentatd 
zspol  7  descipw/  isu  cm/  m«c  d^  bii.  inoente^  .ix.  ngrad  nime  na 
tarmdechutar.  inoentaid  doena^/a  mete  de.  isinoen/«/(/  isuaisle 
andas  cerAoen/w.  inoen/«/(/  nanoemtrmoti  vaisle  oirmit[n]igi. 
athazr  7  mac  7  spirw/  n^(5. 


trocaire  nde  tmimpide  patraic.  roissam  uli  moen/aid  sin. 
rosairilk/w.  rosaitr<?uam.  in  saecula  saeculorum.     Amen. 


Read  cechlathidib. 


On  Ike  Life  of  St.  Patrick.  47 


between  them,  so  that  they  might  not  kill  each  other.  They  saw 
before  them  in  the  east  two  stags,1  with  a  wain  between  them  and 
the  body  therein.  They  went  forward  to  Armagh  and  they 
were  thankful  to  God. 

Patrick  was  buried,  with  honour  and  veneration,  with  daily 
wonders  and  miracles,  in  Dunlethglaisse. 

And  though  great  is  his  honour  still  among  men,  his  honour 
will  be  still  greater  at  the  meeting  of  Doom,  where  he  will  be  like 
every  chief  apostle,  passing  judgment  on  the  men  of  Ireland  unto 
whom  he  preached.  It  is  there  he  will  shine  forth  like  the  sun 
in  the  union  of  the  saints  and  holy  virgins  of  the  world;  in 
union  of  patriarchs  and  prophets ;  in  the  union  of  apostles  and 
disciples  of  Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  living  God ;  in  union  of  nine 
orders  of  heaven  that  have  not  transgressed ;  in  the  union  of 
the  Manhood  of  Jesus  Christ  son  of  God ;  in  the  union  which  is 
nobler  than  every  (other)  union ;  in  the  union  of  the  holy,  noble, 
venerable  Trinity,  Father  and  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

I  implore  God's  mercy  through  Patrick's  intercession !  May 
we  all  attain  to  that  union,  may  we  deserve  it,  may  we  dwell  there 
in  saecula  saeculorum  \  Amen ! 


1  Or  perhaps  '  two  wild  oxen,'  '  .ii.  boves  indomiti,'  as  in  Lib.  Arm.  8.  b.  a. 


II. 

BETHA   BRIGTE. 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  BRIGIT. 


BETHA  BRIGTE  INCIP1T. 

Lelar  Brecc,  p.  6ib. 


Hii  sunt  qui  sequntur  agnum  quocunque  ierit.  .i.  isiat  so 
inlucht  lenait  innuan  nemhelnide  cipe  conxu  dech. 

lOham  mac  zepedei  brundalta  isu.  comorba  nahogi.  ise  roscrzb 
nabriaM/Tzsa.  7  foracaib  iciiimne  iat  isineclazV  cm/aide  donfhocraic 
7  donlog  dothidnaic  dia  dontresgrad  nahechwi  .i.  dolucht  nahoige 
.i.  tochoscem  innuain  nemhelnide. 

INde  iohannes  hie  ait.  hii  sunt  qui  sequntur  agnum  etc.  ISe 
tmmurro  leth  atdibe  inaisftor  laheoin  codu  indep^rt  remi  inashosfe/a. 
Nemo  potest  dicere  canticum  nisi  ilia  .c.  xl.  iiiim.  milia  qui  emperti 
(leg.  redempti  ?)  sunt  de  terra,  .i.  fortitudinem  uirtutum  acipiunt 
pro  terrenis.  Nithic  doneoch  fordomun  admolad  dingmala  no  class- 

comadais  do  d6num  donchoimdid.  acht  nech  ecin  dochom- 
naheckui  cechtarda  rocongbad  ingenus  7  inoige.  7  rocend- 
gad  doluag  fola  cm/. 

Uirgines  enim  sunt.  Uair  isiatsin  nahoga  codemin.  conid 
forslicht  nambria/Aarsin  atb^'r  iohannes.  hii  sunt  qui  sequntur 
agnum  quocunque  ierit  id  est  uirgines  tertius  gradus  eclesiae. 
Nam  sunt  gradus  eclesiae  quibus  xxx.mus  7  .Ix.mus  7  .c.mus 
fructus  datur  testante  iohanne  Vicente.  Ecce  agnus  dei.  ecce  qui 
lollet  peccata  mundi.  Agnus  hautem  propter  innocentiam  dictus 
est.  Sequntur  agnum,  quid  enim  est  sequi  christum  nisi  imitari 
cum.  ut  petrus  ait.  Sequimini  uestigia  eius  .i.  sequimini  eum 
uirginitate  cordis  et  carnis.  quia  caro  utique  agni  uirgo  est.  Nihil 
enim  prodest  carnem  habere  uirginem  si  mente  quis  nupserit  .i. 
Nitharmnaig  doneoch  techtasin  colla  oigi.  mad  trualnide  omra- 
main.  Uirginitas  enim  carnis  corpus  intactum  libidine.  uirginitas 
anime  fides  incorrupta.  lactantia  hautem  uirginitatem  perdit. 
uirgines  enim  de  suis  meritis  gloriantes  hipocritis  comparantur. 
hoc  enim  est  euangelio  non  habere  uirgines  oleum  in  uassis  suis. 
non  seruare  intra  concientiam  boni  operis  testimonium.  sed  in 
facie  gloriam  (?)  apud  homines  Arisft/  fil  isintshosw'/a  «?»idiat 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  BRIGIT. 


Hi  sunt,  etc.  These  are  the  folk  that  follow  the  unpolluted 
Lamb,  whatsoever  way  He  may  wend. 

John,  son  of  Zebedee,  Jesus'  bosom-fosterling,  heir  of  the 
Virgin,  he  it  is  that  wrote  these  words,  and  that  left  them  in  the 
Church  Christian  in  memory  of  the  reward  and  guerdon  which 
God  hath  given  to  the  third  grade  of  the  Church,  namely,  to  the 
Virgins,  that  is,  the  following  of  the  unpolluted  Lamb. 

Inde  Johannes,  etc.  Now  this  is  the  parallel  part  of  the  declar 
ation  by  John,  as  far  as  where  he  previously  said  in  his  Gospel  (sic) 
Nemo  potest,  etc.  There  cometh  not  to  any  one  on  earth  to  make 
unto  the  Lord  meet  praise  or  fitting  quire-song,  save  only  of  a 
surety  one  of  the  all-fullness  of  either  Church,  who  hath  been 
brought  up  in  chastity  and  in  virginity,  and  hath  been  redeemed 
with  the  price  of  Christ's  blood. 

Virgincs  enim  sunt.  For  those  are  the  virgins  assuredly.  So 
on  the  track  of  these  words  John  saith  Hi  sunt,  etc. 


Nihil  enim  prodest,  etc.     It  profiteth  not  any  one  to  have  the 
flesh  a  virgin  if  he  be  corrupt  in  mind.     Virginitas  enim,  etc. 


Hoc  est  enim  in  Evangelic,  etc.     For  this  is  in  the  Gospel,  that 
these  are  the  virgins  that  have  not  oil  in  their  vessels,  namely, 


52  Bet  ha   Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc  pp.  6ib. — 62s. 

nahoga  natechtand  ola  inalestrrfib  .i.  nahoga  nach  forcoimeta 
deminqftf  (?)  inchoimded.  acht  maidmige  fiad  chach. 

Haec  est  falsa  castitas  (.i.  uirginitas).  quocunque  ierit.  hunc 
(.i.  agnum)  in  eo  quisque  sequitur  in  quo  imitatur.  non  quoniam 
ille  filius  dei  est  sed  in  quoniam  filiis  hominum  se  praebuit  imitan- 
dum.  quibus  apostolus  ait.  Obsecro  uos  fratres  ut  exibeatis  corpora 
uestra  hostiam  uiuam  sanctam  ueteris  et  noui  testamenti  placentem 
deo.  Rochomailset  din  uas(al)at^r<7ig  intfmna  nahdigi  iremfiu- 
gra(d)  cm/,  rochomailset  din.  apsta/7  7  descipw/7  isu  cm/  meic  de 
bi'i  hi  beos  Martire  7  ancharait  inchoimded.  Noib  7  noeboga 
indomain  archena.  ama/  rochomaill  innog  uasal  oirmitnech  diata 
Kth  7  foraithmet  inecmowg  nareesea  [p.  62*]  7  innahaimsire  .i. 
sancta  uirgo  dei  brigida  .i.  isann  ian/flz  celebrait  nacrw/aide  feil 
7  lithlathi  nahi  noembrigte  .i.  kl.  ebrai  arai  lathi  mi's  g/'/ne.  isinund 
on  7  arai  lathi  sechtmaine  ismbli&fci'a  itaum  dobeith  fair. 

IXdist^r  din  sund  ni  diafertaib  7  diamirbulib  7  diagein  chol- 
laide  ineclojib  nacmtaide. 

Brigit  ingen  dubtha/^-  m^;c  demri  (  no  dreimne)  m«'c  bre- 
sail  m^'c  dein  mev'c  conla  meic  artrach  m«c  artchirp  mac  coirpn 
nfad  meic  connate  meic  oengw^a  mind  meic  echath  find  fuathnairt 
mt7*c  fedli/n/^  rechtuda  7  rl. 

INdubthachsin  tra  mac  demri.  rochendachside  cumail.  broic- 
sech  ahainm.  ingen  dallbrdnaig  dodal  concbobair  adeisc<frt  breag. 
Roscentaig  dubthach  ico[m]mam«j  di  r0wbahakr^tu  uad.  lArsin 
^daigis  seug  dubthaig  immoncum<7/7  .i.  brechtnat  blaithbec-ainm 
mna  dubth<w^.  conepen  inrigan.  mina  renasu  inchumailsa  itirib 
cianaib  dobibwjsa  (.i.  doibegait)  mothindscra  dhit  7  regut  uait. 


Nirbotol  dodubthj^  recc  nacumj//e  et/'r. 

Dolluid  dubth^f^  7  acumj/  icarput  immalle  fns  sech  thegdais 
araile  drwad.  Or«jcld  indnii  fogwr  incharpa^1  istd  roatbert!  fe? 
agille  ciafil  isincarpw/.  arisfogwr  charpj//  forig  indso.  Atb^rt 
ingilla  dubtbzr^-fil  and.  luid  indrai  iarsin  forcind  incharpk?/?.  coriar- 
iacht  cdich  inben  b<5i  isincarpw/.  Atlvrt  dubthach  cumal  lemsa 
sin  olse.  Maithgen  ainm  indruad  isuad  ainmnigth^r  ross  maith- 
gen.  IMchomarcis  indroi  cia  orbohalachta  inchuma/.  Odhub- 
thach  orinchumj/.  Albert  ind/tii  bid  amra  ingein.  nibia  asamail 
isnatalnw//daib. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  B 

the  virgins  that  do  not  keep  (to  themselves)  the  approbation  of 
the  Lord,  but  (make)  boasting  before  every  one. 
Hate  cst falsa  autitas,  etc. 


Now  Patriarchs  fulfilled  the  testament  of  virginity  in  prefigura- 
tion  of  Christ.  And  apostles  and  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  son 
of  the  living  God,  fulfilled  it  also,  the  martyrs  and  anchorites  of 
the  Lord,  the  saints  and  holy  virgins  of  the  world  besides,  even 
as  the  holy,  venerable  virgin  fulfilled  it,  she  that  hath  a  festival  and 
a  commemoration  on  the  occasion  of  this  season  and  this  time, 
to  wit,  sancta  rirgo  Dd  Brigida,  for  then  it  is  that  the  Christians 
celebrate  the  feast  and  festal  day  of  this  holy  Brigit,  to  wit,  the 
Kalends  of  February  as  to  the  day  of  the  solar  month.1 

Here  then  is  related  in  the  churches  of  the  Christians  some 
what  of  her  miracles  and  man-els,  and  of  her  birth  according  to  flesh. 

Brigit  (was  the)  daughter  of  Dubthach,  son  of  Demre  (or 
Dreimne),  son  of  Bresal,  son  of  Den,  son  of  Conla,  son  of  An.. 
son  of  Art  Corb.  son  of  Cairpre  the  Champion,  son  of  Connac. 
son  of  Oengus  the  Dumb,  son  of  Eochaid  Find  Fuathnart,  son  of 
Fedlimid  the  Lawgiver,  e 

.  that  Dubthach  son  of  Demre  bought  a  bondmaid, 
named  Broicsech,  daughter  of  Dallbronach  of  Dal  Conchobair  in 
the  south  of  Bregia.  Dubthach  united  himself  in  wedlock  to  her, 
and  she  became  pregnant  by  him.  Thereafter  Dubthach's  consort 
grew  jealous  of  the  bondmaid  (Brechtnat  Blaithbec  was  the  name  of 
Dubthach's  wife),  and  the  queen  said  "unless  thou  sellest  this 
bondmaid  in  far-off  lands,  I  will  demand  my  dowry  of  thee,  and  I 
will  go  from  thee." 

Dubthach  did  not  at  all  desire  to  sell  the  bondmaid. 

Dubthach  went,  and  his  bondmaid  along  with  him,  in  a  chariot 
past  the  house  of  a  certain  wizard.  When  the  wizard  heard  the 
noise  of  the  chariot,  this  he  said :  "  See,  O  gillie,  who  is  in  the 
chariot,  for  this  is  the  noise  of  a  chariot  under  a  king.''  Said  the 
gillie,  "  Dubthach  is  therein."  Then  the  wizard  went  to  meet  the 
chariot,  and  he  asked  whose  (was)  the  woman  who  was  biding  in  the 
chariot.  Said  Dubthach,  ''That  is  a  bondmaid  of  mine,"  quoth  he, 
Maithgen  was  the  wizard's  name,  and  from  him  Ross  Maithgen  is 
named.  The  wizard  asked  by  whom  the  bondmaid  was  pregnant. 
"  By  Dubthach."  says  the  bondmaid.  Said  the  wizard,  "  Marvellous 
will  be  the  offspring,  the  hie  of  her  will  not  be  in  (all)  the  1- 


cannot  translate  the  rest  of  this  arrtrncr.. 


54  Bet  ha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc  p.  62*. 


Albert  dubthach  nildic  dam  mose'tig  cenacreicc  nacunW/esi. 

Albert  indrai  tmrath  faitsine  fognife  sil  domnasu  dosil 
nacumailesi.  arberaid  inchuma/  ingen  uasal  oirmitnech  fiadainib 
intalm^w.  ama/  taitnes  gnan  et/r  rendaib.  taitnigfet  gnimruda  ocus 
ariltne  nahingene. 

Rofailtnig  dubthach  7  incbumal  desin.  Albert  dubthach  uair 
techtaimsea  macu.  ropad  maith  leamm  din  combeih  ingen  occum. 

Dochoid  dubthach  iarsin  diathig  7  achum<z/  lais.  Bahetaid 
immurro  beos  inben  fhsincunW/. 

Bamor  tra  airmitiu  nahinginisi  ocdia.  ardodechuter  di  epscop 
dobretnaib  otd  elpa  (no  alba)  diataircetul  7  dianoebud  .i.  epscop 
mel  7  melchu  (nomina  eorum).  Dorat  immurro  &ubthach  failte 
doib.  7  dorigne  inchum<7/  anumaloit  7  atimthirecht.  Bronach  tra 
s6tig  tiubthaig  desiu.  IMcomaircis  epsw/  mel  di  fochund  atorsi. 
Atb^rt  inben  ardoroisce  &ubthach  achumai'l  dimm.  Atb^rt  epscop 
mel  isamlaid  bias  armz/  asbm.  uair  fognife  dosflsa  dosil  naomW/e. 
acht  tarmnaigfid  asilse  dotsflso.  Bafergachsi  deside.  Roiarfoc^/ 
tra  \ntepscop  di  ciamet  m^c  techtaisiu  orse.  Atb^rt  inben  se  mez'c 
olsi.  Dixit  eps^  mel.  berasu  insechtmad  mac.  7  bid  h^  bus  mesa 
dfb.  7  bidatolca  nanWc  aile  acht  mine  saera  sil  nacumaile  iat.  ocus 
bidatmallachdasu  fein  forinancr/de  dogni  donchum^z'/. 


lArsna  brkMrasin  tra  tanic  araile  drdi  acrfch  hua  maccuais 
othochur  maine  dothig  (\ubthaig.  Orafit/r  immurro  indrrti  combahi 
inchum^/  fochund  fergi  mna  Aubthaig  albert  indr^i.  increcfa  inchu- 
mat'L  crecfat  o>r<\ubthach.  Atb^-tsat  naihepscmp.  crecc  incumat/ 
ocus  nacrecc  inngein  fil  inabroind.  Doroine  &ubthach 


Dochuaid  ass  indrai  7  inchuma/  lais.     Dodechaid  mdrai  con- 
z'/  diathaig.1 

Tanic  araile  filid    acr/ch  rh0»aille  dothaig  indmad  remrati 
doluag2  mogad  no  chum«z'/e.     Rocrecc  indrai  fa's  inchuma/  ocus 

1  This  sentence  comes  in  the  MS.  after  the  next  two. 

2  MS.  doluad. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit. 


Said  Dubthach,  "  My  consort  did  not  allow  me  not  to  sell  this 
bondmaid." 

Said  the  wizard  through  his  gift  of  prophecy,  "  Thy  wife's 
seed  shall  serve  this  bondmaid's  seed,  for  the  bondmaid  will  bring 
forth  a  daughter,  noble,  revered,  before  the  men  of  the  earth.  As 
sun  shineth  among  stars,  (so)  will  shine  the  maiden's  deeds  and 
merits." 

Dubthach  and  the  bondmaid  rejoiced  thereat,  (and)  Dubthach 
said,  "Since  I  have  (already)  sons,  I  should  like  to  have  a 
daughter." 

Then  Dubthach  went  (back)  to  his  house  and  his  bondmaid 
with  him.  The  wife  however  was  still  jealous  of  the  bondmaid. 

Great  was  the  honour  in  which  God  held  this  girl.  For  two 
bishops  of  the  Britons  came  to  her  from  Alba  to  prophesy  of  her 
and  to  sanctify  her,  to  wit,  Bishop  Mel  and  Melchu  nomina  eorum. 
So  Dubthach  gave  them  a  welcome  and  the  bondmaid  served  them 
and  tended  them.  Now  Dubthach's  consort  was  mournful  thereat, 
and  Bishop  Mel  asked  her  the  cause  of  her  sadness.  Said  the 
wife,  "Because  Dubthach  hath  distinguished  his  bondmaid  from  me." 
Said  Bishop  Mel,  "  Thus  shall  it  be  as  thou  sayest,  for  thy  seed 
shall  serve  the  seed  of  the  bondmaid,  but  her  seed  shall  be  profitable 
unto  thy  seed."  She  was  angry  with  him.  So  the  bishop  asked  her, 
"  How  many  sons  hast  thou  ?"  Said  the  wife,  "  Six  sons."  Dixit 
Bishop  Mel,  "  Thou  shalt  bear  the  seventh  son,  and  he  will  be  the 
worst  of  them,  and  the  other  sons  will  be  bad  unless  the  bondmaid's 
seed  ennobles  them,  and  thou  thyself  shalt  be  accursed,  because 
of  the  cruelty  which  thou  shewest  to  the  bondmaid." 

After  these  words  there  came  to  Dubthach's  house,  out  of  the 
border  of  Hui-Maiccuais,1  another  wizard  who  had  been  gathering 
treasures.  Now  when  the  wizard  knew  that  the  bondmaid  was 
the  cause  of  the  anger  of  Dubthach's  wife,  he  said,  "  Wilt  thou 
sell  the  bondmaid  ?"  "  I  will  sell,"  saith  Dubthach.  Quoth  the 
bishops,  "  Sell  the  bondmaid,  but  sell  not  the  child  that  is  in  her 
womb."  Thus  did  Dubthach. 

The  wizard  went  forth  and  the  bondmaid  with  him.  The 
wizard  with  his  bondmaid  arrived  at  his  house. 

A  certain  poet  came  out  of  the  province  of  Conaille2  to  the 
house  of  the  wizard  aforesaid  in  order  to  buy  a  slave  or  a  bondmaid. 

1  Four  districts  so  called  are  mentioned  by  the  Four  Masters  :  Ui-Mic-Uai.s 
(now  Moygish)  in  Westmeath,  Ui-Mic-Uais  Airghiall,  Ui-Mic-Uais-an-Fhachla, 
Ui-Mic-Uais  Breagh. 

2  Probably  Conaille-Murthemne  in  the  County  of  Louth. 


56  Eetha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  62*,  6sb. 

nirochrecc  inchoimp^rt.  isand  dorala  dondrai  fled  mor  dodenum 
7  dorogart  rig  conzille  chuice  donfleid.  isand  \.ra  ropamm  tw^meda 
domnai  inrig.  Boi  faith  icoimtecht  inrig  coriarfar^/  de  cara  donrig. 
Ciahuair  bid  maith  donrigain1  tusmmd  intsil  rigdai.  dixit  propheta. 
in  gein  notw^mtha  imbarach  la  turgbail  ngraie  nofomaisligfed 
czch  turned  inein«#.  Remdechaid  dana  turned  na  rigna  inuarsin 
corruc  mac  marb.  i^acht  din  infile  donfaith  dws  cia  huair  bud 
maith  donchumaz'/  turned.  Atb«t  infaith  ingein  notw-remtha  im 
barach  laturcbail  ngrme.  7  nabud  itaig  na^  [p.  62b]  amuig 
doroiscfed  cech  ngein  inein'««. 


INtan  dodech^</  incumal  iarnabarach  latwrcabaij  ngrme  ocus 
lestar  Ian  dolemnac^/  inalaim.  intan  tuc  acois  dartairsech  intaige 
istech.  7  in  choss  aile  amuig.  isandsin  rue  iningein  .i.  noembrigit. 

Nigset  nabantimthirid  iningen  donl^mnac^/  bdi  illaim  am«- 
thar.  Bsicubaid  tra  sin  fr/hariltne  noembrig/e  .i.  fh'adellrud  ocus 
fn'ataitnem  ahdgi. 

Hicetain  din  7  inochtmad  uatru&/  rogenair  brig?'/  ifochart 
mwrthemni.  Ata  beos  frz'sineckzir  anairdess  inlecc  forsangenair 
brig//.  7  rucad  iningen  focMoir  iarnabreith  c^inmac  marb  narigna. 
7  orosiacht  anail  mbrigte  chucca  atr^cht  abas  coluath. 

Luid  \2caum  indrai  7  (in)  churns/  ^wahingin  icrfch  chotmacht. 
zmdthan  dochonnacfaaib.  ahathair  amwwain.  aaittreb  la  connacht- 
aib. 

INaraile  16  luid  inchumal  dia  hinis.  7  dofalaig  ahingen  ina- 
taig.  ifcwmcatar  araile  comaicse  integdais  amboi  iningen  forlassad 
cond«?rna  breo  thened  di  othalm#m  coneam.  intan  tancater  docho- 
bair  intaige  niroartmigset2  intene  7  ised  atb^rtsat  cowbalan  dorath 
inspir/a  noib  iningen. 

Laa  naile  dochuaid  indrai  ««acumail  dochuairt  inacet^n. 
incannadas  b(5i  forcind  nahingine  itcess  forlassad.  orosinset  alama 
chuci.  indrai  7  inchum^/  niroartraig  intene. 


Facs.  rigam.  *  Read  niroartraig. 


On  the  Life  nf  St.  Brigit.  57 


The  wizard  sold  him  the  bondmaid,  but  sold  him  not  the  offspring. 
Then  it  came  to  pass  that  the  wizard  made  a  great  feast,  and  bade 
the  king  of  Conaille  to  the  feast,  and  it  was  then  the  time  for  the 
king's  wife  to  bear  a  child.  There  was  a  prophet  along  with  the 
king,  and  a  friend  of  the  king's  asked  him  what  hour  would  be 
lucky  for  the  queen  to  bring  forth  the  royal  offspring.  Dixit  pro- 
pheta,  "  The  child  that  shall  be  brought  forth  to-morrow  at  sunrise 
shall  overtop  every  birth  in  Ireland."  Now  the  queen's  travail 
came  on  before  that  hour,  and  she  brought  forth  a  dead  son. 
Then  the  poet  asked  the  prophet  what  hour  would  be  lucky  for 
the  bondmaid  to  bring  forth  ?  Said  the  poet,  "  The  child  that  shall 
be  brought  forth  to-morrow  at  sunrise,  and  neither  within  the 
house  nor  without,  shall  surpass  every  child  in  Ireland." 

Now  on  the  morrow,  at  sunrise,  when  the  bondmaid  was 
going  with  a  vessel  full  of  milk  in  her  hand,  and  when  she  put  one 
foot  over  the  threshold  of  the  house  inside  and  the  other  foot  out 
side,  then  did  she  bring  forth  the  girl,  to  wit,  Brigit. 

The  maid-servants  washed  the  girl  with  the  milk  that  was  in 
her  mother's  hand.  Now  that  was  in  accord  with  the  merits  of 
Saint  Brigit,  to  wit,  with  the  brightness  and  sheen  of  her  chastity. 

On  a  Wednesday  and  in  the  eighth  moon  was  Brigit  born  in 
Fothart  Murthemni.1  Still,  to  the  south-east  of  the  church  is  the 
flagstone  whereon  Brigit  was  born,  and  the  girl  was  taken  straight 
way  after  her  birth  to  the  queen's  dead  son,  and  when  Brigit's 
breath  came  to  him  he  swiftly  arose  out  of  death. 

Then  the  wizard  and  the  bondmaid  with  her  daughter  went 
into  the  province  of  Connaught :  her  mother  (was)  of  Connaught, 
her  father  out  of  Munster,  her  abode  with  the  Connaughtmen. 

On  a  certain  day  the  bondmaid  went  to  her  island,  and  covered 
up  her  daughter  in  her  house.  Certain  neighbours  saw  the  house 
wherein  was  the  girl  all  ablaze,  so  that  a  flame  of  fire  was  made  of 
it  from  earth  to  heaven.  But  when  they  went  to  rescue2  the  house, 
the  fire  appeared  not,  and  this  they  said,  that  the  girl  was  full  of 
the  Holy  Spirit. 

One  day  the  wizard  went  with  his  bondmaid  to  visit  the  cattle. 
The  cow-dung  (?)  that  lay  before  the  girl  was  seen  ablaze.  But 
when  the  wizard  and  the  bondmaid  stretched  down  their  hands  to 
it,  the  fire  appeared  not. 

1  Fochaird  Muirthemhne   occurs    in   the  Four  Masters,  A.  D.  248.  O'Dono- 
van  says  it  is  Foughard  in  the  County  of  Louth,  about  two    miles  to   the   north 
of  Dundalk. 

2  lit.  to  help. 


58  BetJia  Brigte,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  62b. 


Tan  and  roscotail  indrai  comtsacca  trzar  clerech  ine'taigib 
gelaib  .i.  trz'haingil  donim.  7  roimbretar  ola  forcend  noembrig/e 
^wraforbachsat  ord  nabatsi.  7  atb^rt  intres  clerech  frz'sindrai  Bidhe 
ahainm  nanoeminginese  sancta  brigita.  Atracht  indrai  7  roraid 
inni  at<:h0;mairc. 

Roalt  ira  inndebingensa  .i.  brigz'/  ochomairbz'rt  bith  7  samail 
frz'acombessaib  archena  7  nofrithbruitiud  (.i.  noobad)  tecosc  in- 
druad  7  noasced.  Roimraid  indrai  iningen.  ddig  lais  combad 
aringlaine  7  arcoirpthecht  abfid.  corerb  iarsin  bo  find  hdd^rg 
diablegun  do  brigz'/  7  erbais  bannscal  niressaig  diablegun.  domeil 
iningen  insasad  sin. 


Roalt  innoemingensin  ^wzbatimthirid  7  cer^ni  fnsacomraiced 
alam  noforbred  7  noairmitniged  dia.  Nosforbred  cechcuccan 
atchid  7  dathimthired.  nolesaiged  nacserchu.  nothimtired  dodhall- 
aib.  nobiathad  bochtu. 

Accobair  do  brigz'/  techt  dothdrruma  ahathardu.  7  rofhoid 
indrai  techta  codubthach  cotised  f<?rcend  aingine.  roindiset  natech- 
ta  dodubthach  ferta  7  mirbuli  hile  inahingine.  Teit  dubthack 
i&ium  7  feraid  indr^i  failte  fr«.  7  dorat  dd  afngein  saeir. 


~Lotar  iarsin  dochumm  atire  .i.  dubthach  7  aingen  .i. 
hicnch  hua  failge.  conid  andsin  dosgni  \>rigit  firt  namra  .i.  amum- 
mi  boi  anindlubra  galair.  7  fdidis  inmummi  intii  noembrz^-z'/  7 
araile  ingin  immalle  frza.  dothig  araile  fir.  Boethcu  aainmside.1 
dochuinchid  dige  dochormaimm  fair,  erais  brigtf.  Rolin  l>rigit 
iarsin  lestor  asaraile  topur.  7  rosb^nach  corasoud  imblass  chorm^ 
ma.  7  dosb^zr  damw/wmi  wwbahdgslan  de  foc^e^oir.  INtan  ira 
docoas  diahdl  naflede  nifrz'th  banna  di. 


Ba  dof<?rtaib  brig/e  diamboi  ocingaire  mucc  dubthaz^.  tanca- 
dar  damerlech  cutallsat  dathorcc  dontreot.  dochotar  darsinmag 
cocomranic  dubthach  frzu  7  corosnaisc  eraicc  amucc  forru.  A.iberf 
dubfhach  fribrz^z'/  inmaith  ingaire  namucc  aingen  olse.  dixit  "brigit 
iri  dubthach  airimse  namucca.  roairim  dubthach  namucca  7  nicon- 
to/a  ni  dib. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  59 

Once  upon  a  time  when  the  wizard  was  sleeping,  he  saw  three 
clerics  in  white  garments,  to  wit,  three  angels  of  heaven,  and  they 
poured  oil  on  St.  Brigit's  head,  and  they,  completed  the  order  of 
baptism.  And  the  third  cleric  said  to  the  wizard  "  This  shall  be 
the  name  of  this  holy  maiden  :  Sancta  Bri'gita"  The  wizard  arose, 
and  told  what  he  had  beheld. 

Now  this  holy  virgin,  namely,  Brigit,  was  nourished  with  food 
and  like  to  her  compeers  (?)  besides,  and  she  rejected  the  guid 
ance  of  the,  wizard  and  used  to  give  it  (the  food)  away.  The 
wizard  meditated  on  the  girl,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  it  was 
because  of  the  impurity  and  the  corruption  of  his  food.  Then  he 
enjoined  a  white  red-eared  cow  to  give  milk  to  Brigit,  and  he 
enjoined  a  faithful  woman  to  milk  the  cow.  The  virgin  took  her 
fill  of  that. 

That  holy  virgin  was  reared  till  she  was  a  handmaiden,  and 
everything  to  which  her  hand  was  set  used  to  increase  and  rever 
ence  God.  Every  store  of  food  which  she  saw  and  served  used 
to  grow.  She  bettered  the  sheep  :  she  tended  the  blind :  she  fed 
the  poor. 

Brigit  was  minded  to  go  and  watch  over  her  fatherland.  And 
the  wizard  sent  messengers  to  Dubthach,  that  he  might  come 
for  his  daughter.  The  messengers  declared  unto  Dubthach  the 
maiden's  miracles  and  many  wonders.  Then  Dubthach  came,  and 
the  wizard  bade  him  welcome,  and  gave  him  his  daughter  free. 

Then  they  went  to  their  country,  Dubthach  and  his  daughter 
Brigit,  in  the  province  of  Offaly  j1  and  there  did  Brigit  work  a 
wondrous  miracle,  to  wit,  her  fostermother  was  in  weakness  of 
disease,  and  the  fostermother  sent  the  holy  Brigit  and  another 
maiden  with  her  to  the  house  of  a  certain  man  named  Boethchu", 
to  ask  him  for  a  draught  of  ale.  He  refused  Brigit.  Then  Brigit 
filled  a  vessel  out  of  a  certain  well,  and  blessed  it,  and  (the  water) 
was  turned  into  the  taste  of  ale,  and  she  gave  it  to  her  foster- 
mother,  who  straightway  became  whole  thereby.  Now  when  they 
went  to  drink  the  banquet  not  a  drop  thereof  was  found. 

This  (was  another)  of  Brigit's  miracles  :  while  she  was  herd 
ing  Dubthach's  swine,  there  came  two  robbers  and  carried  off  two 
boars  of  the  flock.  They  fared  over  the  plain,  and  Dubthach  met 
them  and  bound  on  them  the  eric  (mulct)  of  his  swine.  Said 
Dubthach  to  Brigit,  "  Is  the  herding  of  the  swine  good,  my  girl  ?" 
saith  he.  Dtxit  Brigit  to  Dubthach,  "  Count  thou  the  swine." 
Dubthach  counted  the  swine,  and  not  one  of  them  was  wanting. 

1  in  Leinster. 


60  Betha  Brigte,  Lebar  Brecc,  pp.  62  b,  63*. 


Luidset  din  aigid  co&ubthach.  rannais  tiubthach  assil  tsalli  hi 
cdic  tdchtaib.  7  foracaib  ocbrigit  diambruith.  doluid  cu  goirt  elsco- 
thach  isintech  cobn'git.  dorat  brtgtt  di  incdiced  tdcht  arthrocaire. 
On/^caith  incii  intdchtsin  dorat  brigtf  tdcht  aile  do.  Tanic  Aub- 
thach  iarsin  7  atb^rt  fr/a  brigit  inroberbais  insaill  7  inmarait  uli 
naherranda.  airimsea  iat  (Abrigit.  roairim  ftuUhach  7  nithesta  nf 
clib.  itchuatar  nahaigid  do  tiubthach  inni  dorigne  brtgtf.  Atimdai 
OT&ubthach  ferta  nahinginesin.  niroscaithset  iarw^  na  haigid  inbiad. 
uair  roptar  esindraice.  acht  rofodlad  [p»  63a]  dobochtaib  7  do- 
aidelcnech^  inchoimded. 


Fecht  and  dorothlaig  araile  bannscal  iressach  tt&ubthach 
twdigsead  brtgit  lea  amuig  life,  arbdi  comthinol  senaid  laigen  and. 
Rofoillsiged  hifhis  diaraile  fir  noeb  bdi  isindail  .i.  muire  ingen 
dothidecht  dochumm  nadala.  7  atb^rt  fh'ss  wnatrifer  isindail.  Teit 
inbannscal  iarnabarach  7  \srigit  immalle  fr/a  docum  nadala.  7  inti 
itchonnairc  infis  ise</  atb^rt.  issi  seo  inmuire  iteh<?;znarcsa  orse 
tribrigit.  Ronb^nachsat  inuli  slogu  inti  noembn^'/  foanmaimm1 
7  ondir  muire.  com'dhi  \>rigit  mwz're  nangsedel  dsin  ille. 


Fecht  and  tanic  form^main  brigte.  trz'arath  inspir/0  noib. 
techt3  dofiss  seel  am«//for  bdi  indaire  corochuindig  ceat  aathar. 
7  nitharut  di.  araide  dochuaidsi  cenchetugud  dd  dubthach.  Ba- 
heim  donmdthatY  intan  doriacht.  basast/^rach  bagallrach  mmattair 
7  ro  .  .  .  .  daressi  amathai.  7  rogab  forlesugud  nahairge.  INcet- 
na  maistred  ira  dosgni  brigtt  rosfodail  athorud  indibrendaib  dec 
inonoir  da  aps/a/  .x.  induileman.  7  rosuidig  intres  cuibrend  dec 
corba  mou  he  indas  czch  cuibrend  inonoir  isu  cm/.  7  dosrat3  uli 
iar«#z  dobochtaib  inchoimded.  Rom«t^/naig  immurro  buachail 
indruad  innordugw</  tuc  brz^z'/  forsin  immum.  ISand  sin  atb^rt 
krigit.  Cmt  conadib  aps/alu  .x.  dorigne  precept  do  dainib  indo- 
main.  isnaainm  sasaimsea  bochtu.  ar  bid  cm/  ip^rsaind  ce^  bocht 
iressach. 


Luid  intara   (.i.   inbu(a)chail)  dothaig  indruad.  7  ro  izrfacht 
de  indrai  7  aben  inmaith  lesaiges  inndg  inairge.  ut  dixit  intara 

1  Facs.  foanniainm.  2  Facs.  decht. 

a  In  the  facsimile  there  is  a  dot  over  the  t. 


On  Ike  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  61 

Guests,  then,  came  to  Dubthach.  Dubthach  sundered  a  gam 
mon  of  bacon  into  five  pieces,  and  left  them  with  Brigit  to  be 
boiled.  And  a  miserable,  greedy  hound  came  into  the  house  to 
Brigit.  Brigit  out  of  pity  gave  him  the  fifth  piece.  When  the 
hound  had  eaten  that  piece  Brigit  gave  another  piece  to  him. 
Then  Dubthach  came  and  said  to  Brigit :  "  Hast  thou  boiled  the 
bacon,  and  do  all  the  portions  remain  ?"  "  Count  them,"  saith 
Brigit.  Dubthach  counted  them,  and  none  of  them  was  wanting. 
The  guests  declared  unto  Dubthach  what  Brigit  had  done. 
"  Abundant,"  saith  Dubthach,  "  are  the  miracles  of  that  maiden." 
Now  the  guests  ate  not  the  food,  for  they  were  unworthy  (thereof), 
but  it  was  dealt  out  to  the  poor  and  to  the  needy  of  the  LORD. 

Once  upon  a  time  a  certain  faithful  woman  asked  Dubthach 
that  Brigit  might  go  with  her  into  the  plain  of  the  Liffey,  for  a 
congregation  of  the  synod  of  Leinster  was  held  there.  And  it 
was  revealed  in  a  vision  to  a  certain  holy  man  who  was  in  the 
assembly,  that  Mary  the  Virgin  was  coming  thereto,  and  it  was 
told  him  that  she  would  not  be  (accompanied)  by  a  man  in  the 
assembly.1  On  the  morrow  came  the  woman  to  the  assembly,  and 
Brigit  along  with  her.  And  he  that  had  seen  the  vision  said 
"  This  is  the  Mary  that  I  beheld  1"  saith  he  to  Brigit.  The  holy 
Brigit  blessed  all  the  hosts  under  the  name  and  honour  of  Mary. 
Wherefore  Brigit  was  (called) '  the  Mary  of  the  Gael'  thenceforward. 

On  a  time  it  came  into  Brigit's  mind,  through  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  to  go  and  see  her  mother  who  was  in  bondage. 
So  she  asked  her  father's  leave,  and  he  gave  it  not.  Nevertheless, 
she  went  without  permission  from  Dubthach.  Glad  was  her 
mother  when  she  arrived.  Toil-worn  and  sickly  was  the  mother 

and  she  (Brigit) for  her  mother,  and  took  to  bettering 

the  dairy.  The  first  churning  that  Brigit  had  she  divided  the  fruit 
thereof  into  twelve  shares  in  honour  of  the  twelve  apostles  of  the 
Creator,  and  she  set  the  thirteenth  portion  so  that  it  was  greater 
than  every  (other)  portion  in  honour  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  she 
gave  them  all  then  to  the  poor  of  the  Lord.  Now  the  wizard's 
herdsman  marvelled  at  the  ordering  that  Brigit  gave  the  butter. 
Then  said  Brigit :  "  Christ  with  his  twelve  apostles  preached  to  the 
men  of  the  world.  In  His  name  it  is  that  I  feed  the  poor,  for 
Christ  is  in  the  person  of  every  faithful  poor  man." 

The  charioteer  (that  is  the  herdsman)  went  to  the  wizard's 
house,  and  the  wizard  and  his  wife  asked  him  "  hath  the  virgin  well 


Very  doubtful.     Should  we  read  con-ndtri  fir  '  ne  exsurgat  vir  '  ? 


62  Betha  Brigte,.  Lebar  Brecc,  p. 


{.i.  inbuachail)  Ambuidechsa  cipind&tf  7  atremra  nal(5ig.  uair 
nirolam  e*cnach  mbrig/e  inahecmais.  Doberi  intara  ruse  lais 
ochtnduird  ina  ardi.  dixit  intara  fria  "brigit  doraga  indrai  rwamnai 
dolinad  inruiscsea  do  immim  natogorta  (.i.  nahairge).  Mochen 
jdoib  olbngi'f.  Tanic  indrai  7  asetig  don  airge  owacutar  naloig 
remra.  fi?rais  bn£7/  failte  firm  7  tuc  biad  doib.  IS  andsin  atb^rt 
,ben  indruad  fribrigif.  ised  tancwwar  dafis  d^  inrosgab  gram  inni 
roherbad  duit.  Cid  fil  dimmim  ocut.  Niboi  aicesium  inerlaime 
acht  torud  3enmhaist«?rda  coleith.  7  dosb<?rt  inleth  hfsin  fortiis. 
'Rofaitbester  lasodain  ben  indruad  7  ised  atb^rt.  ismaith  orsi 
Dolinad  rdisc  moir  accum  inmdit  nimmesea.  Lmaid  bar  ruse  ol  br?^'/ 
7  dobera  dia  imm  ind.  Nothegedsi  beus  inaculid  7  dob^read  leth 
toraid  cef^afecais  esti.  uair  nirbail  dodia  ahenechsi  dobreith  cora- 
h'nad  inrusc  fonindw^sin.  7  ised  nogebedsi  octecht  inaculid. 


Add  amorurisea 
.     conic  inahuilisea 

bffwnach  ade  nuall  cengeis 

cotlaim  deis  inculidsea. 

Ti  mac  muire  mochara 

dob£«nachad  mochuile 

flaith  indomain  cohimbel 

ronbe  imbed  lasuide. 

Ro  ermitnig  indrai  7  asetig  incoimdid  triasinfirt  atchonncatar 
conid  annsin  atb<?rt  indrai  frz'a  bngi^  INtirnm  7  nabii  robligis 
idpraimsea  duit  iat.  nisbia  indaire  damsa  acht  fogain  donchoimdid. 
Rosfrecair  brigit  d6  7  atb^rt  fris.  bersiu  nabu  7  tabair  damsa 
sairse  momdthar.  atb^rt  indrui.  acht  sserfaith^r  domdt/iaiY.  doberihar 
•duit  nabii  7  secipni  atb/ra  dogensa.  rofodail  brigtf  nabii  doboch- 
•taib  7  doaidilcnechaib  de.  robaitsed  indrai  7  bahiressach  7  bdi 
icomitecht  brig/e  osin  immach. 


Tanic  Wgit  iarsin  7  zmdthair  lea  cotech  ahath^r.  AccotxK? 
iarsin  ftubthach  7  asdtig  creicc  inti  noem  brig/e  indaire.  uair 
baholcc  la  dubthach  aindile  7  aindmas  dofodail  dobochtaib. 
7  ised  sin  dognid  bngtf.  Luid  tra  dubthach  icarpw/  7  br/^/'/  immalle 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  63 

cared  for  the  dairy?"  And  the  charioteer  (2.  e.,  the  herdsman)  said 
"  I  am  thankful  anyhow,  and  the  calves  are  fat" — for  he  durst  not 
carp  at  Brigit  in  her  absence.  The  charioteer  took  with  him 
a  firkin  (?),  eight  fists  in  height.  Said  the  charioteer  to  Brigit : 
"  The  wizard  will  come  with  his  wife  to  fill  this  firkin  with  the 
butter  of  the  dairy."  "  They  are  welcome,"  saith  Brigit.  The 
wizard  and  his  consort  came  to  the  dairy,  and  beheld  the  calves  fat. 
And  Brigit  made  them  welcome  and  brought  them  food.  Then 
said  the  wizard's  wife  to  Brigit :  "  We  have  come  to  know  whether 
that  which  hath  been  entrusted  to  thee  hath  profited.  Of  butter 
what  hast  thou?"  She  had  none  in  readiness,  except  the  mak 
ing  of  one  churning  and  a  half  making,  and  she  first  brought  the 
half.  The  wizard's  wife  mocked  thereat  and  said  :  "  This  quantity 
of  butter,"  says  she,  "  is  good  to  fill  the  big  firkin  that  I  have  \" 
"  Fill  your  firkin"  saith  Brigit,  "  and  God  will  put  butter  into  it." 
So  she  kept  going  still  into  her  kitchen  and  carrying  out  of  it  a 
half  making  at  every  journey,  for  God  did  not  wish  to  deprive  her 
of  honour,  so  in  that  wise  the  firkin  was  filled.  And  this  is  what 
she  repeated  on  going  into  her  kitchen — 

O  God,  O  my  Prince 

Who  canst  do  all  these  things, 

Bless,  O  God  (a  cry  unforbidden), 

With  thy  right  hand  this  kitchen ! 

May  Mary's  Son,  my  Friend,  come 

To  bless  my  kitchen  ! 

The  Prince  of  the  world  to  the  border, 

May  we  have  abundance  with  Him ! 

The  wizard  and  his  consort  venerated  the  Lord  because  of  the 
miracle  which  they  beheld ;  wherefore  then  said  the  wizard  to  Brigit : 
"  The  butter  and  the  kine  that  thou  hast  milked,  I  offer  them  to  thee. 
Thou  shalt  not  abide  in  bondage  to  me,  but  serve  thou  the  Lord/' 
Brigit  answered  him  and  said :  "  Take  thou  the  kine  and  give 
me  my  mother's  freedom."  Said  the  wizard  :  "  Not  only  shall  thy 
mother  be  freed,  (but)  the  kine  shall  be  given  to  thee,  and  what 
soever  thou  shalt  say  (that)  will  I  do."  Then  Brigit  dealt  out  the 
kine  unto  the  poor  and  the  needy  of  God.  The  wizard  was  baptiz 
ed  and  was  faithful,  and  accompanied  Brigit  from  that  time  forth. 
Then  came  Brigit,  and  her  mother  with  her,  to  her  father's 
house.  Thereafter  Dubthach  and  his  consort  were  minded  to  sell 
the  holy  Brigit  into  bondage ;  for  Dubthach  liked  not  his  cattle 
and  his  wealth  to  be  dealt  out  to  the  poor,  and  that  is  what  Brigit 


64  Betha  Brigte,  Lclar  Brccc,  pp.  63%  6$b. 

fris.  ised  atb<?rt  &ubthach  fri  brigit  niforonoir  na  forairmitin  duit 
dotberar  icarpw/.  acht  dotbreith  dotchreicc  7  dobleith  broan  do 
dunlang  mac  enda  dorig  laigen.  Orancatar  dun  inrig  luid  dubthach 
isindun  cusindrig.  boi  brigit  inacarpw/  indorus  induine.  foracaib 
dubthach  aclaideb  isincarpw/  ifail  mbrig/e.  Dothaet  [p.  63b] 
clam  co  brigit  dochuinch/</  almsaine.  dob^-rsi  c\aideb  Aubthaig  do. 
Dixit  Aubthach  fnsinrig  incendgaid  cwwail  .i.  mingensa  orse.  dixit 
dunlaing  cid  foracrecca  tingin  fen.  dixit  dubthach  ni  anand  ocreicc 
mindmais  7  icathabairt  dobochtaib.  dixit  inrig.  toet  inog  isindun. 
Toet  &ubthach  arcend  br/g/e.  7  fergaigis1  fna  ior%.z\aideb  dotabairt 
donbocht.2  Otanic  brigit  ifiadnaise  inrig.  atb^rt  fr/a  inri.  intan  ise 
indmas  tathar  aingen  gatai.  ismor  mo  diacendgorsa  g£tai  mindmas 
7  mindile.  7  dosb/rai  dobochtaib.  dixit  br^/'/  rofitz'r  mac  nahingine 
damad  lemsa  dochumungsa  colagnib  7  cotuli  indmas  dob/raind 
donchoimdid  nandula.  dixit  inri  tri&ubthach  Nidat  comadais  dibli- 
naib  dochunnrad  nahinginesea.  arisuasli  ahairilhW  fiadia  oldaini. 
7  domb^rt  inri  claideb  det  dodhubtha^  daracend.  et  sic  liberata 
est  sancta  uirgo  brigita  captiuitate. 


Garit  iarsin  cotanic  araile  fer  sochenowl  co&ubthach  dochuin- 
chid  aingine.  batol  dodhubth^^  7  diamacaib  inm'sin.  rosopustar 
ira  Wgit.  Atb^rt  bratha/V  diabrathrib  friasi  .i.  beccan  aainmsium. 
isespach  insiiil  caeim  fil  atchindsa  cenabeith  foradart  hifail  fir. 
Roftor  mac  nahingine  clbrigt'f  nibeoda  dunni  masahi  dosbeir 
pudar  forinn.  Dorat  brigif  indsin  am6r  foasiiil  rowastall  asacind 
comboi  foragruad.  7  artwt  acso  duit  dosuil  nalaind  abeccain. 
Moidis  ira  asuilside  focheVoir.  Otchonnairc  tiubthach  7  abrathirsi 
sin.  gellsat  nachepertha  fna  dul  cofer  dogre's  dorat  iarsin  adernaind 
fmrosc  ^wbahogslan  fo^//dir.  nirboslan  \ra  suil  beccain  coabas. 


Atb^rt  dubthach  frza  brigit  A  ingen  olse  geib  kattte  fortchend. 
mad  rochindis  togi  dodia  nitgetsa  aire.  deo  gratias  ol  brigit. 


Ms.  fergaidis.  a  Facs.  donbcht. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Briglt.  65 


used  to  do.  So  Dubthach  fared  in  his  chariot,  and  Brigit  along 
with  him.  Said  Dubthach  to  Brigit :  "  Not  for  honour  or  rever 
ence  to  thee  art  thou  carried  in  a  chariot,  but  to  take  thee  to  sell 
thee,  and  to  grind  the  quern  for  Dunlang  MacEnda,  King  of  Lein- 
ster."1  When  they  came  to  the  King's  fortress,  Dubthach  went  in 
to  the  King  and  Brigit  remained  in  her  chariot  at  the  fortress  door. 
Dubthach  had  left  his  sword  in  the  chariot  near  Brigit.  A  leper 
came  to  Brigit  to  ask  an  alms.  She  gave  him  Dubthach's  sword. 
Dixit  Dubthach  to  the  King  :  "  Wilt  thou  buy  a  bondmaid,  namely, 
my  daughter?"  says  he.  Dixit  Dunlang:  "Why  sellest  thou 
thine  own  daughter  ?"  Dixit  Dubthach :  "  She  stayeth  not  from 
selling  my  wealth  and  giving  it  to  the  poor."  Dixit  the  King : 
"  Let  the  maiden  come  into  the  fortress."  Dubthach  went  for 
Brigit  and  was  enraged  against  her,  because  she  had  given  his 
sword  to  the  poor  man.  When  Brigit  came  into  the  King's  pre- 
.sence,  the  King  said  to  her  :  "  Since  it  is  thy  father's  wealth  that 
thou  takest,  much  more,  if  I  buy  thee,  wilt  thou  take  my  wealth 
and  my  cattle  and  give  them  to  the  poor  ?"  Dixit  Brigit :  "  The 
Son  of  the  Virgin  knoweth  if  I  had  thy  might  with  (all)  Leinster, 
and  with  all  thy  wealth  I  would  give  (them)  to  the  Lord  of  the 
Elements."  Said  the  King  to  Dubthach :  "  Thou  art  not  fit  on  either 
hand  to  bargain  about  this  maiden,  for  her  merit  is  higher  before 
God  than  before  men."  And  the  King  gave  Dubthach  for  her  an 
ivory-hilled  sword,  et  sic  libcrata  est  sancta  virgo  Brigila  captivitatc. 

^-Shortly  after  that  came  a  certain  nobleman  unto  Dubthach 
to  ask  for  his  daughter  (in  marriage).  Dubthach  and  his  sons 
were  willing,  but  Brigit  refused.  Said  a  brother  of  her  brethren 
named  Beccan  unto  her :  "  Idle  is  the  fair  eye  that  is  in  thy  head 
not  to  be  on  a  pillow  near  a  husband."  "  The  Son  of  the  Virgin 
knoweth,"  says  Brigit,  "  it  is  not  lively  for  us  if  it  brings  harm  upon 
us."  Then  Brigit  put  her  finger  under  her  eye,  and  drew  it  out  of 
her  head  till  it  was  on  her  cheek ;  and  she  said  :  "  Lo,  here  for  thee 
is  thy  delightful  eye,  O  Beccan !"  Then  his  eye  burst  forthwith. 
When  Dubthach  and  her  brethren  beheld  that,  they  promised  that 
she  should  never  be  told  to  go  unto  a  husband.  Then  she  put 
her  palm  to  her  eye  and  it  was  quite  whole  at  once.  But  Bee- 
can's  eye  was  not  whole  till  his  death. 

Said  Dubthach  to  Brigit :  "  O  daughter,  says  he,  "  put  a  veil 
on  thy  head.  If  thou  hast  dedicated  thy  virginity  to  God,  I  will 
not  snatch  it  from  Him."  '  Deo  gratias,'  says  Brigit. 

1  A  Dunlang  mac  Enna  Niadh,  ri  Laigen  occurs  in  the  Four  Masters,  A.  D. 
241.     As  Brigit  is  said  to  have  died  A.  D.  523,  there  is  probably  some  error  here. 


66       Betha  Brigte,  Lebar  Brecc,  pp.  64% — 6^,  6^. 

Luid  brigit  7  araile  dga  immalle  fra  dogab[ail]  challe 
cdhepscop  mel  itelcha  mide.  Bafailid  side  frz'u.  Anais  brigit  aru- 
maloit  ttwzbadiside  dedinach  forsatib^rtha  calle.  Atracht  columu 
tenntide  diacind  cocleithe  naheckm.  Roiarfaig1  epscop  mel.  ciahdg 
suut.  Rofrecair  mac  caille  brigV/  sin  orse.  Tair  anoembrigt? 
corosentar  caille  fortchend  rasnahogu  aile  oresc^p  mel. 


IS«/  dorala  ann  tm  rath  inspir/a  ndib.  gr«d  epscmp  derlegend 
for  brfgit.  Albert  mac  caille  conarbz  hord  grad  nepscm'p  forbann- 
scail.  dixit  epscop  m61.  Nocolemm  achomw^.  uair  is  o  dia  doratad 
inremiadsin  sech  cech  mbannscail  di.  Conid  onoir  epscuip  dob^rat 
fir  QYenn  dochomorbii  br/'g(t)e. 


INochtmaid  uathaztf  rogenair.  inochtmad  d^c  rogab  caille 
f<?racend.  inochtmaid  fichet  dochoid  dochumm  nime.  Conocht 
ndgaib  rocoisecrad  brigit  folin  ocht  mbiaiti  intdosr«7a  rocho- 
maillestor.  Maraid  beus  coss  nahaltori  boi  illaim  bn'g/e.  cia 
roloiscthea  natn*  cossa  aile. 

Ba  dof<?rtaib  brig/e  orachomacsig  solkwain  nacasc  gabais 
brigit  inaraile  locc  icomfacnzib  doepscop  m^l  gar  ria  caplait. 
ropail  dobrtgt'f  tn'a  deircc  cdirm  dode'nw/w  dona  heck-rib  immdaib 
robatar  immpe  7  nirbognath  [p.  64b]  coirmm  dodenum  isinaimsir- 
sin.  acht  nirothecht  brigit  acht  senmiach  bracha.  Nirabatar  lestair 
la  m«»tir  brig/e  acht  dalothar.  doronsat  dabaig  dondaraloth^r.  ocus 
rolinsat  indlestar  aile  donchormaimm.  7  doberiis  nahoga  bew 
obrigz'/  inchoirm  dona  heckjib.  7  balan  bzus  oc  brigit  foracind 
inlestar  corourthastar  torad  inasnmeich  bracha  tnasobarthain 
mbrz'g/e  secht  neclori  fer  telach  arincaplait  7  arocht  lathib  nacasc. 


[p.  6$b.  1.  28]  Oraforbad  sollamain  nacasc  roiarfaig1  brigif 
dahingenaib  inrabai  fuigell  occu  dolind  nacasc.  Atb^rtsat  nahoga. 
dobera  dia  biad  olsiat.  isandsin  tancatar  daingin  istech  7  dr^lmach 
Ian  do  usa  leo.  Rofitzr  mac  nahingine  olbrigit  ata  maith  and.  doig 
leesi  ftwfbacoirmm.  isdeniu2  raid  ama/  atb^rtsi  sin  rosoud  intus« 
hicoirmm  togaide  focetoir. 


MS.  Roiarfaid  2  Facs  seems  deniti< 


On  the  Life  of  Si.  Brigit.  67 


Brigit,  and  certain  virgins  with  her,  went  to  Bishop  Me*!,  in 
Telcha  Mide,  to  take  the  veil.  Glad  was  he  thereat.  For  hum 
bleness  Brigit  staid,  so  that  she  might  be  the  last  to  whom  the 
veil  should  be  given.  A  fiery  pillar  arose  from  her  head  to  the 
ridgepole  of  the  church.  Bishop  Mel  asked :  "  What  virgin  is 
there  ?"  Answered  MacCaille :  "  That  is  Brigit,"  saith  he.  "  Come 
thou,  O  holy  Brigit,"  saith  Bishop  Mel,  "  that  the  veil  may  be 
sained  on  thy  head  before  the  other  virgins." 

It  came  to  pass  then,  through  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  the  form  of  ordaining  a  bishop  was  read  over  Brigit.  Mac 
Caille  said  that  the  order  of  a  bishop  should  not  be  (conferred)  on 
a  woman."  Dixit  Bishop  Mel :  "  No  power  have  I  in  this  matter, 
inasmuch  as  by  God  hath  been  given  unto  her  this  honour  beyond 
every  woman."  Hence,  it  is  that  the  men  of  Ireland  give  the 
honour  of  a  bishop  to  Brigit's  successor. 

In  the  eighth  (day)  of  the  lunar  month  (?)  was  she  born.  On 
the  eighteenth  did  she  take  the  veil  oa  her  head.  On  the  twenty- 
eighth  did  she  go  to  heaven.  Together  with  eight  virgins  was 
Brigit  consecrated.  According  to  the  number  of  the  eight  beati 
tudes  of  the  gospel  did  she  fulfil  (her  course). 

This  was  one  of  Brigit's  miracles.  When  the  solemnity  of 
Easter  drew  nigh,  Brigit  set  up,  shortly  before  Maunday-Thursday, 
in  a  certain  place  near  unto  Bishop  Mel.  Brigit  desired,  through 
(her)  charity,  to  brew  ale  for  the  many  churches  that  were  around 
her,  and  it  was  not  usual  to  brew  ale  at  that  time.  Brigit  possessed 
only  one  measure  of  malt,  and  Brigit's  family  had  no  vessels  save 
two  troughs.  They  made  a  tub  of  one  of  the  two  vessels,  and 
they  filled  the  other  vessel  with  the  ale,  and  the  virgins  kept  tak 
ing  the  ale  from  Brigit  to  the  churches,  and  still  the  vessel  before 
Brigit  remained  full.  And  thus  the  produce  of  one  measure  of 
malt,  through  Brigit's  blessing,  supplied  (?)  seven  churches  of 
Fir  Telach1  for  Maunday-Thursday  and  for  the  eight  days  of 
Easter. 

When  the  solemnity  of  Easter  was  fulfilled,  Brigit  asked  her 
maidens  whether  they  had  the  leavings  of  the  Easter  ale.  Replied 
the  virgins :  "  God  will  give  food,"  say  they.  Then  two  maidens 
came  in  with  a  tub  full  of  water.  "  The  Virgin's  Son  knoweth,"  says 
Brigit,  "  that  there  is  good  (ale)  there."  She  thought  that  it  was 
ale.  Quicker  than  speech,  as  she  said  that,  the  water  was  turned 
into  choice  ale  forthwith. 


»  Now  Fartullagh,  a  barony  in  the  County  Westmeath. 


68  Betha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  63^  64*. 

Dochuaid  brigit  coaraile  eclat's  itir  thethba  dochelebrad  nacasc. 
oragab  brigit  forosaic  diadardain  cendla  donasenorib  7  donadainib 
fannaib  batar  isindeckzir.  Cethrar  dodhainib  galair  robatar  and  .i 
duine  abrachtach  7  dasachtach  7  dall  7  clam.  Dorigne  brigtj 
anosaie  acethrar.  7  rohiccha  fochetoir  ocech  theidm  boi  form. 

Fecht  boi  brigit  itaig  foraigidecht  ra/zdechsat1  uli  immach  acht 
macc&m  .iiii.  blizdan  .x.  boi  cenlabra  riam.  7  cenlud  icois  no  ilaim 
do.  7  nisfitzr  brigit  abeth  amkz</.  <wzid  annsin  tancatar  oegid  istech 
cobrigit.  Albert  brigit  frzsinmaccaem  frz'thoil  nahoegedu.  Dogen 
arinrmzrcsem.  Atracht  focMoir  7  dogni  timthirecht  nanoiged.  ocus 
ropogslanscw  osin  immach. 

ISandsin  dorala  comddl  fer  nerenn  itailltin  inairmm  amboi 
patraz'c.  7  senad  clerech  nerenn  imbi.  Dochuater  din  docum 
nadala  .i.  brigtf  7  epscop  mel.  Tainic  araile  bannscal  docum 
nadala  7  lenabb  ina  laim.  7  ised  ztbert  conid  laheps^  mbron 
inlenabb.  Rodmlt  tra  inteps<r^  anfsin.  Roiarfaig2  brtgit  don- 
bannscail  cia  orochoimpr<?star  ingein.  7  roraid  frza  ^nahebred 
breic.  7  rofrecair  inben.  iso  epscop  bron  olsi.  rolin  tra  att  atengaid 
foc^/oir  ^nacoemnacair  labra.  dorat  brigit  arrdhe  na  crochi  darab61 
nanoiden.  7  roiarfaig.3  cia  thathazrsiu.  rorecair  innoidiu  7  isft/atb^rt. 
Duine  d<?roil  fil  animul  inairechta  ise  sin  mathair  olse.  corosserad 
epscop  bron  am/azi/sin  trzarath  mbrz'g/e. 


Luid  brigit  doacalkzw  patmzV  immuig  lemne.  diamboi  ocpr^- 
cept  sostela.4  wwidrochotail  brigit  frzsin  precept,  dixit  patratc  cid 
forarchotlais.  Refill  brigit  agluni  fot/^H  7  is^  atb*rt.  fis  itownarc 
olsi.  dixit  patrazc  indis  dun  inffs.  Atc^narc  olsi  .iiii.  arathru 
anairdheas  7  roarsatar  [p.  64**]  innulinindsi  7  riasiu  rosiacht  asilad 
rofhas  inbuain.  Tancatar  topair  gela  7  srotha  taitnemacha  asnahe- 
trzgib  7  4taige  gela  imnasiltaidib5  7  imnahairemnu.  Ato«narc6  .iiii. 
harathru  aile  atuaid.  7  roarsetar  aninnsi  fortharsnu.  7  resiasiu7  rosiacht 
inbuain  doridise  roas  incorca.  rosilsat  foc^d?oir  corboabaid.8  ocus 


1  dot  over  d.         2  Facs.  Roiafaid.         3  Ms.  roiarfaid.         4  Facs.  sosa. 
5  Ms.  siltaigib.        6  Facs.  Atconnairc.        7  Read  riasju  ?        8  MS>  abaig. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  69 

Brigit  went  to  a  certain  church  in  the  land  of  Teffia1  to  cele 
brate  Easter,  when  Brigit  took  to  washing  the  feet  of  the  old  men 
and  the  feeble  folk  who  were  in  the  church.  Four  of  the  sick 
people  there,  were  a  maimed  man,  a  madman,  a  blind  man,  and  a 
leper.  Brigit  washed  the  feet  of  the  four,  and  they  were  straight 
way  healed  from  every  disease  that  was  on  them. 

Once  Brigit  was  in  a  house  as  a  guest,  and  all  went  out,  save  a 
stripling  of  fourteen  years.  He  had  never  spoken,  nor  moved  foot 
or  hand,  and  Brigit  knew  not  that  he  was  thus.  So  then  came 
guests  into  the  house  to  Brigit.  Said  Brigit  to  the  stripling  :  "  At 
tend  on  the  guests."  "  I  will  do  so,"  saith  the  stripling.  He  got 
up  at  once  and  did  service  to  the  guests,  and  he  was  quite  whole 
thenceforward. 

Then  there  came  to  pass  a  meeting  of  the  men  of  Ireland  in 
Tailtin,2  in  the  place  where  Patrick  abode,  with  a  synod  of  Ireland's 
clerics  around  him.  Now  Brigit  and  Bishop  Me"!  went  to  the  meet 
ing,  and  a  certain  woman  (also)  went  thither  with  a  babe  on  her 
arm,  and  she  said  that  the  babe  was  by  Bishop  Bron.  The  Bishop, 
however,  denied  that.  Brigit  asked  the  woman  by  whom  the  child 
had  been  conceived,  and  told  her  not  to  utter  a  lie.  And  the 
woman  answered:  'It  is  by  Bishop  Bn5n.'  Then  a  swelling 
straightway  filled  her  tongue,  so  that  she  was  unable  to  speak. 
Brigit  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  infant's  mouth  and 
asked  it :  "  Who  is  thy  father  ?"  The  infant  answered  and  said : 
"  A  wretched  man  who  is  in  the  outskirts  of  the  assembly,  that 
is  my  father,"  saith  he.  So  in  that  wise  Bishop  Br<5n  was  saved 
through  the  grace  of  Brigit. 

Brigit  went  to  converse  with  Patrick  in  Mag  Lemne3  while 
he  was  preaching  the  gospel.  And  Brigit  fell  asleep  at  the  preach 
ing.  Dixit  Patrick :  "  Wherefore  hast  thou  slept  ?"  Brigit  bent 
her  knees  thrice  and  said :  "  I  saw  a  vision,"  quoth  she.  Dixit 
Patrick :  "  Tell  us  the  vision."  "  I  saw,"  quoth  she,  "  four  ploughs 
in  the  south-east,  and  they  ploughed  the  whole  island,  and  before 
the  sowing  was  finished  the  harvest  grew  up,  and  clear  well- 
springs  and  shining  streams  came  out  of  the  furrows,  and  white 
garments  were  round  the  sowers  and  the  ploughmen.  I  beheld 
four  other  ploughs  in  the  north,  and  they  ploughed  the  island 
athwart,  and  before  the  harvest  came  again,  the  oats  which  they 
had  sown  grew  up  at  once  and  ripened,  and  black  streams  came 

1  A  territory  in  Westmeath.  *  Now  Teltown  in  Meath. 

3  Semite  Magh-Leamhna  of  the  Four  Masters,  "  now  the  territory  of 
Closach  in  Tyrone,"  O'Don. 


Betha  Brigtc,  Lclar  Brccc,  p.  64*. 


tancatar  sw/ha  duba  asnahetr/gib  7  etaige  duba  imnasiltaidib1  7  im- 
nahairemnu.  7  bamtoirsech  desin  olbngif. 

Dixit  patraic  nabi  itorsi  uair  ismaith  inni  atrho«narcais. 
NacetA/7  harathru  toisechu  at<rh0«narcais.  mise  sin  7  tussu  silmait 
.iiii.  libair  intsos<:e7a  cosil  irse  7  foisiten.  INbuain  tarfas  duit 
inaires  forphe  innahdoine  sin.  Nacet^r/  harathair  aile.  nasaebfor- 
cetlaide  7  na  brecaire  sin.  cuirfit  darcend  naforcetla  silmait.  ocus 
noco  taircebumne  sin.  Bemitne  messe  7  tussu  argnuis  induileman 
annsin. 


Luid  brigit  iarum  codunlaing  doguide  dilsigthe  dahathair 
inchlaideb  dob<?rt  do  diambdi  indorus  indiiine.  Tanic  din  mog 
domogadaib  inrig  do  acalkz'/w  brigte  7  ised  atb^r/  fr/a.  danamsser- 
thasu  donfognum  hitii  ropadam  crz!r/aide.  7  rofogenaind  duitsiu 
f^n.  'Roraid  brtgit  wwdiugsa  2  sin  forsinrig.  Luid  brigit  iarum 
isindun  7  conzteig  daascaid  forsinrig.  dilsiugud  inclaideb  dod«3- 
thach  7  asaire  don  mogaid.  atb^rt  brigit  fnsinrig  madail  duit  eland 
tsainemail  7  rige  dotmacaib  7  nem  duit  fen.  tabair  damsa  nada 
itghe  (wmaigimm.  Aibert  inrig  iri  brigit  flaith  nime  orse  uair  nach 
facimm  7  nachfetar  ciaret  nichunchimm.  Rige  tra  domomacu 
nichunchimm.  uair  nibeo  fen  foraird.  7  gniad  each  aaimsir.  Tabair 
dam  fot  saegail  irrige  7  each  buaid  fn'hu  neill.  uair  ism^wicc  coccad 
etraind.  7  tabair  dam  coscar  isin  cetchath  corbamcreitmech  isna- 
cathaib  aileib.  7  ised  on  rocomailk/  hi  cath  lochair  fn'a  h«  neill. 


Fecht  ann  tanic  ri  laigen  doestecht  frzpr<?cept.  7  celebrad  dia 
case  docum  brig/e.  iarforba  uird  inchelebartha.  luid  ass  inrig  for 
Sd/.  dochoid  bn^-//  dopra'md.  Asb^rt  lomman  clam  br/'g/e  nato- 
melad  ni  cotuctha  do  armgaisc#/  rig  laigen  eti'r  goei  7  o\aideb  ocus 
sciath.  corumb^rtaiged  foi.  Luid  techtaire  obn'git  indegaid  inrig. 
Omedon  lai  cunowa  donrig  fonmmachor.  7  niroacht  cid  mile 
cemend  cotucad  intarmgaisced  uad.  7  ft?tardad  donchlam. 


Fecht  and  do  epscop  ercc  7  do  brigit  itir  laigen.  Atbertsi  iri 
hrpscop  ercc.  ata  cath  etzr  dothuaithsiu  innossa  7  acomaithgiu. 
dixit  marclerech  domuntir  epscuip  ercc.  Ni  doig  leind  orse  armad 
firsin.  Senais  brigit  aroisc  inm^clerig.  Asb^-rt  in  macclerech 


1  Facs.  imnasiltaigib  7  imnasiltaigib. 


dot  over  d. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  71 

out  of  the  furrows,  and  black  garments  were  on  the  sowers  and 
on  the  ploughmen.  And  I  am  sorrowful  thereat,"  quoth  Brigit. 

Dixit  Patrick :  "  Be  not  in  sadness,  for  good  is  that  which  thou 
beheldest.  The  first  four  ploughs  which  thou  beheldest,  those  are 
I  and  thou.  We  sow  the  four  books  of  the  gospel  with  seed  of 
faith  and  confession.  The  harvest  which  appeared  to  thee,  that 
is  the  perfect  faith  of  those  men-folk*  The  four  other  ploughs, 
those  are  the  false  teachers  and  the  liars,  and  they  will  overturn 
the  teachings  that  we  sow,  and  those  we  shall  not  uplift.  But  we, 
I  and  thou,  shall  then  be  in  the  presence  of  the  Creator." 

Then  Brigit  went  to  Dunlaing  to  ask  him  to  forfeit  to  her 
father  the  sword  which  he  had  given  to  him  while  he  was  in  the 
door-way  of  the  fortress.  Then  a  slave  of  the  slaves  of  the  King 
came  to  speak  with  Brigit  and  said  to  her :  "  If  thou  wouldst  save 
me  from  the  servitude  wherein  I  am,  I  would  become  a  Christian, 
and  I  would  serve  thee  thyself."  Brigit  said  :  "  I  will  ask  that  of 
the  King."  So  Brigit  went  into  the  fortress  and  asked  her  two 
boons  of  the  King — the  forfeiture  of  the  sword  to  Dubthach,  and 
his  freedom  for  the  slave.  Said  Brigit  to  the  King ;  "  If  thou 
desirest  excellent  children  and  a  kingdom  for  thy  sons  and  Heaven 
for  thyself,  give  me  the  two  boons  that  I  ask."  Said  the  King  to 
Brigit :  "  The  kingdom  of  Heaven,  as  I  see  it  not,  and  as  no  one 
knows  what  thing  it  is,  I  seek  not,  and  a  kingdom  for  my  sons  I 
seek  not,  for  I  shall  not  myself  be  extant,  and  let  each  one  serve 
his  time.  But  give  me  length  of  life  in  my  kingdom  and  victory 
always  over  the  Hui  N&ll,  for  there  is  often  warfare  between  us. 
And  give  me  victory  in  the  first  battle,  so  that  I  may  be  trustful 
in  the  other  fights."  And  this  was  fulfilled  in  the  battle  of  Lochar, 
(which  he  fought)  against  the  Hui  Neill. 

Once  upon  a  time  the  King  of  Leinster  came  unto  Brigit  to 
listen  to  preaching  and  celebration  at  Easter-day.  After  the  end 
ing  of  the  form  of  celebration,  the  King  fared  forth  on  his  way 
and  Brigit  went  to  refection.  Lomman,  Brigit's  leper,  said  he 
would  eat  nothing  until  the  weapons  of  the  King  of  Leinster 

were  given  to  him — both  spears  and  sword  and  shield 

A  messenger  went  from  Brigit  after  the  King.  From  mid- day  to 

evening a  thousand  paces  until  the  weapons  were  given 

by  him,  and  bestowed  on  the  leper. 

Once  upon  a  time  Bishop  Ercc  and  Brigit  were  in  the  land  of 
Leinster.  She  said  to  Bishop  Ercc :  "  There  is  at  present  a  battle 
between  thy  tribe  and  its  neighbours."  Dixit  a  student  of  Bishop 
Ercc's  family :  "  We  think  not,"  saith  he,  "  that  that  is  true."  Brigit 


72  Bet  ha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  64*,  64*. 


atciusa  mobrathre  icommarbad  innossa.     Dorigne  at^r/ge   moir 
iarum  inmacclerech. 

[p.  64b  line  7]  Fecht  and  tanic  araile  clam  cobrigit  dochunchid 
bo.  Dixit  brigt'f  frz's.  Cia  de  isferr  lett.  bd  dobreith  no  thicc  don- 
chlaime.  Albert  inclam  baferr  lais  afcc  diachlaime  oltas  rigi  induli 
domain  do.  Arisrig  CQch  slan  olse.  Dorigne  ira  brigif  ernaigthi 
fn'dia  corohfctha  inclam  7  corfhdgain  do  \>rigit  iarsin. 


Odachuaid  tra  clii  brigte  foeiri#«  uli  ifertaib  7  imirbuilib. 
tancatar  dadhall  dobretnaib.  7  mac  bee  clam  leo  dianicc  ccforigit. 
7  dochuatar  amunigin  epscutp  mel  immanicc.  Albert  \irigit  biat 
amuig  coleic  coroisc  (?)  incelebnzd.  Atb^rtsat  nabretnaig  aris 
d<?inmmnetach  innaddinesin.  rohiccais  doine  dotchen^l  fen  inde. 
cenconicca  sinde  indiu.  Dorigne  \>rigit  ernaigthi  7  rohictha  atrz'ur 
focMoir. 

Ised  dochuaid  brigit  iarsin  owahdgaib  do  ardachad  epscmp 
me*!.  Bdi  rig  tethba  icomfocus  ddib  icfleid.  Bdi  lestar  ciimdachta 
d  ilgemaib  illaim  inrig.  gabais  araile  fer  anfaitech  asalaim  condor- 
chair  7  <:^d<?rna  bloga  de.  rohergabad  infersin  lasinrig.  dochuaid 
eps^op  mel  dia  chunchid  7  ni  e"tas  onrig.  achi  abas,  doattaig 
immurro  epscop  mel  cotuctha  dd  inlester  briste  onrig.  7  techtais 
iarsin  7  rue  lais  czmrVtech  amboi  brigit.  Dorigne  brigit  ernaigthe 
fr/'sincoimdid  coroathnuged  inlester  icruth  budfearr.  Ruc'ad  iarsin 
donrig  7  rotuaslaiced  incimbid.  dixit  epscop  mel.  niformsa  dosgnf 
dia  infirtsa.  acht  i 


dochuaid  brigif  dofhorruma  araile  dige  .i.  brigit 
ingen  <r^«ghaile  dognid  ferta  hile.  7  intan  batar  icpraind  .i.  brigit 
c^wahdgaib  rothairis  brigt't  immedon  naprainde.  7  dixit  fmraile 
ndig.  tabair  croiss  cm/  tar  hagaid  7  tar  dhoshiiilib  cofhaiceraso. 
anatciusa,  w«idannsin  itch<?«nairc  indg  insattan  itoeb  nam^si  ocus 
achend  sis  7  achossa  suas.  ade"  7  alassar  asacraess  7  asasronaib 
sechtair.  dixit  brigtt  frz'sindemon  conus  freccrad  df. 


1  Facs.  demnaib. 


On  Ike  Life  of  St.   Brigit.  73 

sained  the  student's  eyes.     Said  the  student :  "  I  see  my  brothers 
a-slaughtering  now."    Then  the  student  repented  greatly. 

Once  upon  a  time  a  certain  leper  came  to  Brigit  to  ask  for  a 
cow.  Dixit  Brigit  to  him  :  "  Which  wouldst  thou  prefer,  to  carry 
off  a  cow  or  to  be  healed  of  the  leprosy  ?"  The  leper  said,  that  he 
would  rather  be  healed  of  his  leprosy  than  have  the  kingdom  of  all 
the  world,  for  'every  sound  man  is  a  king,'  saith  he.  Then 
Brigit  made  prayer  to  God  and  the  leper  was  healed  and  served 
Brigit  afterwards. 

Now,  when  Brigit's  fame  in  miracles  and  marvels  had  travelled 
throughout  all  Ireland,  there  came  unto  Brigit  for  their  healing 
two  blind  men  from  Britain,  and  a  little  leper  boy  with  them, 
and  they  put  trust  in  Bishop  Me"!  to  get  them  healed.  Said 
Brigit :  "Let  them  stay  outside  just  now  till  mass  is  over."  Said 
the  Britons  (for  those  people  are  impatient),  "  Thou  healedst  folk 
of  thy  own  race  yesterday,  though  thou  healest  not  us  to-day." 
Brigit  made  prayer  and  the  three  were  healed  at  once. 

Brigit  went  afterwards  with  her  virgins  to  Ardachad1  of 
Bishop  Mel.  The  king  of  Teffia  was  at  a  feast  near  them. 
There  was  a  vessel  covered  with  many  gems  in  the  king's  hand. 
And  a  certain  careless  man  took  it  out  of  his  hand,  and  it  fell 
and  broke  into  pieces.  That  man  was  seized  by  the  king. 
Bishop  Mel  went  to  ask  for  him,  but  nothing  could  be  got  from 
the  king  save  his  death.  However,  Bishop  M£l  asked  that  the 
broken  vessel  might  be  given  to  him  by  the  king,  and  then  he 
had  it  and  took  it  with  him  to  the  house  wherein  was  Brigit.  And 
Brigit  made  prayer  to  the  Lord,  and  the  vessel  was  restored  in  a 
form  that  was  better  than  before,  and  then  it  was  taken  to  the 
king,  and  the  captive  was  loosed.  And  Bishop  Me"l.  said  :  "  Not 
for  me  hath  God  wrought  this  miracle,  but  for  Brigit."" 

Once  upon  a  time  Brigit  went  to  watch  over  a  certain  virgin, 
namely,  Brigit,  the  daughter  of  Congaile,  who  used  to  work 
many  miracles.  And  when  Brigit  and  her  virgins  were  at  dinner, 
Brigit  paused  in  the  middle  of  the  meal,  and  she  said  to  a  certain 
virgin :  "  Make  thou  Christ's  cross  over  thy  face  and  over  thine 
eyes  that  thou  mayest  see  what  I  see."  So  then  the  virgin 
beheld  Satan  beside  the  table  with  his  head  down  and  his  feet 
up,  his  smoke  and  his  flame  out  of  his  gullet  and  out  of  his 
nostrils.  Said  Brigit  to  the  demon  that  he  should  answer  her : 


Now  Ardagh  in  Teathbha. 


74  Bet  ha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  64^  65*. 

Nichiimcaim  achaillech  centacallfl/w.  uair  coimetai  tfmna  d£. 
7  atogaillse1  fnabochtaib  7  fm  mwwtir  nde. 

INdis  duinn  ol  brigtf  cid  arnercotige  inbtfrndenmaib  don- 
chiniud  doenna. 

dixit  demon,  conaroissed  inchiniud  orse  dochum  parduis. 

dixit  brfgif  fn'a  demon,  cid  diatanacaise  chucainde  inar- 
c&illechu. 

araile  6*g  craibdech  fil  sund  ordemon.  7  isnacomitecht  atiisa. 

dixit  brigtf  fr/sinoig.  tabair  cross  cmt  dar  do  siiilib.  7  itcon- 
nairc  indg  foc^/oir  intorathor  grana  hisin.  7  rogab  oman  mor 
inog  otth^nairc  indemon. 

Cid  foranimgaibe  Q\bngit  indalta  ocatai  lessugud  triri  ciana. 

don'gne  inog  athrige  iarsin.  7  rohictha  dondemon  crais  ocus 
etraid  boi  inacomitecht. 

Fecht  and  doluid  brigif  dartethba  7  sloig  mora  innacomi- 
techt.  Batar  dachlam  inandiaid.  dorigenset  debaid  forsin  set. 
INti  tuarcaib  dib  alaim  artiis.  seccaid  inlaim.  roshecc  din  lam 
inchlaim  aile.  Dorigenset  iarsin  athrige.  7  rosicc  bngit  iatsin 
diaclaime. 

Fecht  do  brigit  conz  hogaib  inard  macha.  dolluid  dias  secca 
7  dr<?lmach  usce  forru.  Tancatar  dob<?«nachad  dobrtgtf.  dorochair 
indrolmach  dian^isi.  7  dochuaid  druimm  dar  driiim  otha  dorus 
ratha  co  loch  lapan  7  nirobris  7  ni  torcha/r  banda  esti.  Basuach- 
nid  lecach  ba  b<?«nachtu  brig/elforuair  iarsin.  patricius  dixit.  fodlaid 
in  usce  foard  macha.  7  foairtheru.  rofodlad  iarww  7  rohicc  cock 
ngalar  7  cech  nances  bdi  isintfr. 


Luid  brigz'f  icrich  fer  ross  dothuaslucud  chimmedabai  [p.  65a] 
illaim  ocrig  fer  ross.  Dixit  brigt't  insaerfa  damsa  incimmid  lit. 
Albert  inrig.  Cia  dotvrthasu  damsa  orse  n'ge  fer  mbreg.  nithibrind 
duit  he.  acht  nadigsiu  foera  orinrig  doberthar  aanimmcomdt«j 
oen6idche  fortsu  do.  Roartraig  din  brigit  diulai  donchimmid. 


Read  at  togaillse  ? 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  75 

"  I  cannot,  O  nun,  be  without  conversing  with  thee,  for  thou  keepest 
God's  commandments  and  thou  art  ....  to  God's  poor  and  to 
His  family." 

"  Tell  us,"  saith  Brigit,  "  why  thou  art  hurtful  in  thy  deeds 
to  the  human  race  ?" 

Said  the  demon :  "  That  the  race  may  not  attain  unto  Pa 
radise." 

Said  Brigit  to  the  demon :  "  Wherefore  hast  thou  come  to  us 
among  our  nuns  ?" 

"  A  certain  pious  virgin  is  here,"  saith  the  demon,  "  and  in 
her  company  am  I." 

Said  Brigit  to  the  virgin:  "Put  Christ's  cross  over  thine 
eyes."  And  the  virgin  beheld  at  once  the  hideous  monster  there, 
and  great  fear  seized  the  virgin  when  she  beheld  the  demon. 

"  Wherefore  shunnest  thou,"  saith  Brigit,  "  the  fosterling 
whom  thou  hast  been  cherishing  (?)  for  long  seasons  ?" 

Then  the  virgin  repented,  and  she  was  healed  of  the  devil 
of  gluttony  and  lust  that  had  dwelt  in  her  company. 

Once  upon  a  time  Brigit  went  over  Teffia,  and  there  were 
great  hosts  along  with  her.  There  were  two  lepers  behind  them, 
who  quarrelled  on  the  road.  The  hand  of  him  that  first  raised 
his  hand  withers,  and  then  the  hand  of  the  other  leper  withered. 
Thereafter  they  repented  and  Brigit  cured  them  of  their  leprosy. 

Once  upon  a  time  Brigit,  with  her  virgins,  was  at  Armagh, 
and  two  went  by  her  bearing  a  tub  of  water.  They  came  to 
Brigit  to  be  blessed,  and  the  tub  fell  behind  them  and  went  back 
over  back  from  the  door  of  the  Rath  as  far  as  Loch  Lapan.  And 
it  brake  not,  and  not  a  drop  fell  thereout.  It  was  well  known  to 
every  one  that  Brigit's  blessing  had  caused  this,  and  Patrick 
said :  "  Deal  ye  the  water  throughout  Armagh  and  Airthir."  So 
it  was  dealt,  and  it  cured  every  disease  and  every  anguish  that 
was  in  the  land. 

Brigit  went  into  the  province  of  Fir  Ross1  to  loosen  a  captive 
who  was  in  manu  with  the  King  of  Fir  Ross.  Said  Brigit :  "  Wilt 
thou  set  that  captive  free  for  me  ?"  The  King  replied  :  "  Though 
thou  shouldst  give  me  the  realm  of  the  men  of  Breg,  I  would  not 
give  him  to  thee.  But  go  not  with  a  refusal,"  saith  the  King. 
"  For  one  night  thou  shalt  have  the  right  to  guard  his  life  for 
him."  Then  Brigit  appeared  at  the  close  of  day  to  the  captive 

1  in  the  south  of  Oirghialla  in  Ulster. 


76  Bet  ha  Brigte,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  65*. 

7  atb<?rt  fhs  intan  tuaslaicfith<?r  inslabrad  ditt.  geib  indimunnsa 
nunc  populus l  7  e*la  fortlaim  ndeiss.  Dognith^r  amlaid.  7  elaid 
incimbid  labr^ir  mbrzg/e. 

Fecht  tanic  brigit  tarsliab  breg  inaraile  laithe.  Boi  dasachtach 
isintsleib.  noaircead  nacuitechta.  Rosgab  uamun  mor  nahdga 
batar  ifail  brig/e  ofcwmcatar  indasachtach.  dixit  brigt'f  fr/sindem- 
nach.  uair  doratla  and  prztcha  biethir  hd6  dun.  Nichumcaim  orse 
cenumaloit  duit.  arisittrocair  fnmwwtir  inchoimded  .i.  fina  bochtaib 
7  frAr6gaib.  isandsin  atb^rt  indasachtach.  airmitnigid  incoimdid 
achaillech2  7  notairmitnigfe  each,  car  incoimdid  7  notcarfa  each, 
aigthi  incoimdid  7  notaigthife  each.  Luid  iarum  indasachtach 
uadib  7  nid^rna  ndch  nerchoit  doib. 


Fecht  dobngtf  ocimddcht  amuig  laigen  cofacca  mac  legind 
inarith  secci  .i.  ninnid  scolaige. 

Cid  dogni  aforusta  olbrigtt  7  cid  the*gi  colluath. 

dochum  nime  arinscolaige. 

rofit/r  mac  nahingeni  olbrigtt  duthracursa  dul  lett. 

dixit  inscolaige.  A  chaillech  orse  nachumtoirmisc  domshet.  no 
mascwwthoirmes  duit  guid  incoimdid  lem  corupsoraid  damsa  techt 
dochum  nime.  7  guidfetsu  dia  letsu  corub  reid  duit.  7  coruca 
hilmile  let  documm  nime. 

gabais  brigtt  pater  leis.  7  bacraibthech  osin  immach.  7  atb^rt 
brigit  nabiad  riag  no  pian  fair.  7  ise  dorat  comaind  7  sacrapaic 
iartain  dobrigtf. 

Luid  brigit  cobepscop  hibair.  corothoirned  acat^raig  di  con- 
dechsat3  iarsin  co  dii  hita  cell  dara  indiu.  Bahi  sin  re"  7  inbuid 
dorala  ailill  mac  dunlainge  7  cet  marclach  do  findchselach  leis 
tr/alar  chille  dara.  Tancatar  daingin  obrigz'/  amach  dochunchid 
neich  donaslataib.  7  tucad  e>a  form.  Rofailgide  foc^//oir  innahuli 


1  in  the  MS.  these  two  words  occur  at  the  beginning  of  line  5,  immediately 
before  Roartraig. 

2  MS.  achaillechu. 

3  dot  over  d. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  77 

and  said  to  him :  "  When  the  chain  shall  be  opened  for  thee 
repeat  this  hymn,  Nunc  populus,  and  turn  to  thy  right  hand  and 
flee."  Thus  it  is  done,  and  the  captive  flees  at  the  word  of  Brigit. 

Brigit  one  day  came  over  Sliab  Breg.1  There  was  a  mad 
man  on  the  mountain  who  used  to  be  destroying  the  companies. 
Great  fear  seized  the  virgins  who  were  near  Brigit,  when  they  saw 
the  madman.  Said  Brigit  to  the  demoniac :  "  Since  thou  hast 
gone  there,  preach  the  word  of  God  to  us."  "  I  cannot,"  he  saith, 
"  be  ungentle  to  thee,  for  thou  art  merciful  to  the  Lord's  family,  to 
wit,  to  the  poor  and  to  the  wretched."  So  then  said  the  madman : 
"  Reverence  the  LORD,  O  nun,  and  every  one  will  reverence 
thee ;  love  the  LORD,  and  every  one  will  love  thee ;  fear  the  LORD, 
and  every  one  will  fear  thee !"  Then  the  madman  went  from  them 
and  did  no  hurt  to  them. 

Brigit  was  once  journeying  in  Mag  Laigen,8  and  she  saw 
running  past  her  a  student,3  namely,  Ninnid  the  scholar. 

"  What  art  thou  doing,  O  Sage  1"  saith  Brigit,  "  and  whither 
art  thou  wending  (so)  quickly?" 

"  To  heaven,"  saith  the  scholar. 

"The  Son  of  the  Virgin  knoweth,"  saith  Brigit,  "that  I 
would  fain  fare  with  thee  !" 

Dixit  the  scholar :  "  O  nun,"  saith  he,  "  hinder  me  not  from 
my  road ;  or,  if  thou  hinderest,  beseech  the  Lord  with  me  that 
the  journey  to  heaven  may  be  happy,  and  I  will  beseech  God 
with  thee  that  it  may  be  easy  for  thee,  and  that  thou  mayst  bring 
many  thousands  with  thee  to  heaven." 

Brigit  repeated  a  Paternoster  with  him,  and  he  was  pious 
thenceforward ;  and  Brigit  said  that  neither  gallows  nor  punish 
ment  would  be  for  him ;  and  he  it  is  that  afterwards  administered 
communion  and  sacrifice  to  Brigit.4 

Brigit  went  to  Bishop  Ibair  that  he  might  mark  out  her  city 
for  her.  So  they  came  thereafter  to  the  place  where  Kildare  is 
to-day.  That  was  the  season  and  the  time  that  Ailill  son  of  Dun- 
laing,5  with  a  hundred  horse-loads  of  peeled  rods,  chanced  to  be 
going  through  the  ground  of  Kildare.  Two  girls  came  from 
Brigit  to  ask  for  some  of  the  rods,  and  they  got  a  refusal.  Forth 
with  all  the  horses  were  struck  down  under  their  loads  against 

1  in  the  County  of  Louth. 
s  the  plain  of  Leinster. 

3  lit.  a  son  of  reading. 

4  Ninnid  Lam-idan,  Todd  Lib.  Hymn,  i. 
8  Four  Masters,  A.  D.  489. 


78  Betha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  65%  65b. 

ech  foamarclaigib  fmlar.  Rogabtha  siiind  7  slipre  doib.  7  nf  er- 
rachtatar  corosidpair  ailill  mac  dunlaing  ince'/marclach  sin  dobrigit 
comd  desin  dorigned  tech  sancbrig/e  hicill  dara. 

ISandsin  atfort  brigit — 

Odur  eccur  mothech 

marroferthar  adulguine 

rope*  flaith  laigen  cobrdih 

oai/z'll  mac  dunlainge. 

Tan  and  tancatar  dachlam  dochuinchid  almsaine  cobrigif. 
N(i)bdi  araill  isincoitchend  acht  oenbd.  Dorat  ira  brigit  dona- 
clamu  inoenboin.  Dorigne  indaraclam  atlugud  budi  dodia  arinm- 
boin.  Dimmdach  immurro  inclam  aile.  uair  badiumsach. 

Dochuaid  orse  cid  mairesi  moenar  imm  boin.  Onice  indiu 
din  orse*  achaillecha  nirocomairemsa  riam  etzr  chelib  d6  7  et/ir 
bochtaib  7  lobraib  7  nibeomm  din  icummaid  immoenboin. 

dixit  brigit  fn'sinclam  numal.  ansu  ifoss  dus  intibre  dia  nf 
isincoitchend  7  teit  ass  inclam  diumsach  lit  conabo'm.  isandsin  tanic 
araile  tuata  combo'm  leis  dobrigi/.  Dorat  immurro  brigit  inmboinsin 
donchlam  umal.  Odochuaid  for  set  inclam  diumsach.  foremdid 
immain  ab6  aoenur.  cotanic  iterum  forciila  ctibrigit  7  dochumm 
afir  chummtha  comboi  i[c]glamud  7  icimmdergud  mbrig/e.  Nf 
ardia  orse  doratais  tidpairt.  acht  isarlisdatwj  7  tromdatwj  rotgab 
fh'msa. 


Tiagait  diblinaib  nadachlam  dochumm  naberba  iarsin.  atraig 
inabaind  frm.  ^laid  inclam  umal  r^aboin  triabennachtam  mbrig/e. 
Dofuit  immurro  isinsruth  inclam  diumsach  7  abo  foathairr  coros- 
baided. 

Fecht  ann  tanic  rigan  cremthain  m^'c  enna  cheindsek?^  [p. 
65b.]  .i.  rigan  laigen.  7  slabrad  argait  lea  dobrigit  anfdpairt.  Fuath 
delbi  duine  isindar[a]cind  de.  7  uball  argait  forsin  cind  aile.  Dorat 
\>rigit  donahdgaib.  corothaisciset  he  cenfis  dobrigit.  uair  bamor 
nogata  brigit  acrod  7  dosb^red  dobochtaib.  Araide  tanic  clam 
cobrigit  corotriall  brigit  inslabrad  cenfis  donahdgaib  7  cotarut  do. 
Orw-yfetatar  nahdga  is#/  atb^rtsat  cofergluinde  moir  7  cofuasnaid. 
Becc  domaith  diin  dothr<5cairesiu  fn'cach  olsiat.  7  sind  fen  ic  rich- 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  79 

the  ground.  Stakes  and  wattles  were  taken  from  them,  and  they 
arose  not  until  Ailill  son  of  Dunlaing  had  offered  unto  Brigit 
those  hundred  horse-loads ;  and  thereout  was  built  Brigit's  house 
in  Kildare. 

Then  said  Brigit — 

my  house 


Let  the  kingship  of  Leinster  for  ever  be 
From  Ailill  son  of  Dunlaing. 

On  a  time  came  two  lepers  unto  Brigit  to  ask  an  alms. 
Nought  else  was  in  the  kitchen  save  a  single  cow.  So  Brigit 
gave  the  single  cow  to  the  lepers.  One  of  the  two  lepers  gave 
thanks  unto  God  for  the  cow.  But  the  other  leper  was  displeased, 
for  he  was  haughty.  "  I  alone,"  saith  he,  "  have  been  set  at  nought 
with  a  cow !  Till  to-day,"  saith  he,  "  O  ye  nuns,  I  have  never 
been  counted  among  Culdees  and  amongst  the  poor  and  feeble, 
and  I  am  not  to  be  slighted  with  a  single  cow."  Said  Brigit  to 
the  lowly  leper :  "  Stay  thou  here  to  see  whether  God  will  put 
anything  into  the  kitchen,  and  let  that  haughty  leper  fare  forth 
with  his  cow."  Then  came  a  certain  heathen  having  a  cow  for 
Brigit.  So  Brigit  gave  that  cow  to  the  lowly  leper.  And  when 
the  haughty  leper  went  on  his  way  he  was  unable  to  drive  his  cow 
alone,  so  he  came  back  again  to  Brigit  and  to  his  comrade,  and 
was  reviling  and  blaming  Brigit.  "  Not  for  God's  sake,"  saith 
he,  "  bestowedst  thou  thine  offering,  but  for  mischief  and  oppres 
siveness  thou  gavest  to  me." 

Thereafter  the  two  lepers  come  to  the  Barrow.  The  river 
riseth  against  them.  Through  Brigit's  blessing  the  lowly  leper 
escapes  with  his  cow.  But  the  haughty  leper  and  his  cow  fell 
into  the  stream,  and  went  to  the  bottom,  and  were  drowned. 

Once  upon  a  time  the  Queen  of  Cremthan,1  son  of  Ennae 
Cennselach,  came  and  brought  a  chain  of  silver  to  Brigit  as  an 
offering.  The  semblance  of  a  human  shape  was  at  one  of  its  ends, 
and  an  apple  of  silver  on  the  other  end.  Brigit  gave  it  to  her  vir 
gins  ;  they  stored  it  up  without  her  knowledge,  for  greatly  used  Brigit 
to  take  her  wealth  and  give  it  to  the  poor.  Nevertheless,  a  leper 
came  to  Brigit,  and  without  her  virgins'  knowledge,  she  went  to 
the  chain  and  gave  it  unto  him.  When  the  virgins  knew  this, 
they  said,  with  much  angry  bitterness  and  wrath,  "Little  good 
have  we  ffom  thy  compassion  to  every  one,"  say  they,  "  and  we 
ourselves  in  need  of  food  and  raiment."  "  Ye  are  sinning,"  saith 

1   Slain  A.  D.  465,  Four  Masters. 


8o  Bet  ha  Brigte ,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  6f. 

tain  lessa  biid  7  etaig.  Atathai  forandagud  aibrigrt  ercid  isineckw. 
baili  indenaim  ernaigthi.  fogebthai  and  barslabrad.  Dochuatar 
labr///$ir  mbrig/e.  acht  cia  doratad  donbo[c]ht  fuaratar  nahoga 
andsin  aslabrad. 

Fecht  ann  itchonnairc  brigit  fer  cosalond  foramuin.  cid  fil 
fordamuin  olbrigif.  Clocha  orinfer.  Bidatclocha  din  oVorigit.ocus 
daronait  clocha  dontsalond.  Tic  doridise  infer  ctf/na  co  (no  sech) 
bn'gti.  Cid  fil  fordamuin  olbrigif.  salond  arinfer.  Bid  salond  din 
olbrigit.  dorigne[d]  salond  de  doridisi  tr/a  br/Mir  mbrig/e. 


Fecht  ann  tancatar  dachlam  dianicc  cobrigti.  dixit  brigit 
frisindaraclam.  nige  araile.  dorigned  amlaid.  7  bahogslan  foc/ze/oir. 
dixit  \>rigit  fhsinclam  slan.  dena  fr/sinclam  naile  osaic  7  nige 
thfir  chumtha.  arm?/  dorignesium  umaloit  duitsiu.  Acht  inned 
tt?ranc«war  orse '  nichomricfem.  uair  incoir  letsu  achaillech  orse. 
misse  slan  ^^ballaib  niiib.  7  cometach  nuaglan  donige  inchlaim 
granai  u[c]ut.  7  abaill  dubglassa  ictuitimm  de.  Ronig  tmmurro 
\>rigit  fen  inclam  nwwall  trog.  INclam  diumsach  roniged  ann 
fortus.  ised  atb^rt  ann  darliumm  orse  isaible  tened  moidit  trem- 
chroicend.  ddniu  raid  immurro  lobenadsum  foc^eVoir  dchlami 
oniullach  achiVfr/  comcQ  abonnaigib  foraanumaloit  dobrigtf. 


Fecht  naill  dobrigif  ictecht  dolaim  in  epscmp  cotarfas  di  cend 
buicc  isincailech  affrmd.  Rooipdester  brigit  incailech  "affrind. 
Cid  orinfer  graid  aranoipdi.  mnse  isaire  opdim  olbrigit.  Cend  buicc 
olsi  nomtadbanar  isincailech  zffrind.  Dorogart  intepscop  ingilla  tuc 
animaltoir.  tabair  dochoibsena  agilla  onntepscop.  isinmatain  indiu 
oringilla  dochuadw^  iteach  nangabur  cotallus  bocc  meath  ass.  ocus 
conduzdus  afeoil.  rophewd  ingilla  7  dorigne  athr/ge.  Dochuaid 
brigit  iarsin  dolaim.  7  nifacoz  infuath. 


ann  tancater  .uff.  nepscmp  cobrigtf  7  ni  boi  aiccesi 
n(  dob^rad  doib.  iarmblegan  namb6  fatAn'.  robliged  tra  doridise. 
naba  intresfecht.  7  bahuilli  inas  cech  blegun. 

Feet  ann  din  rogab  mian  araile  caillech  domw«tir  brig/e 
immsalond.  dorigne  brtgti  ernaigthe  coroshai  incloich  boi  inna- 
fhiad«fl«je  isalond  7  corohiccad  inchailkfA  iarsin. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  81 


Brigit :  "  Go  ye  into  the  church :  the  place  wherein  I  make  prayer, 
there  will  ye  find  your  chain."  They  went  at  Brigit's  word. 
But,  though  it  had  been  given  to  the  poor  man,  the  virgins  found 
their  chain  therein. 

Once  upon  a  time  Brigit  beheld  a  man  with  salt  on  his  back. 
"  What  is  that  on  thy  back  ?"  saith  Brigit :  "  Stones,"  saith  the 
man.  "  Let  them  be  stones  then,"  saith  Brigit,  and  of  the  salt 
stones  were  made.  The  same  man  again  cometh  to  (or  past) 
Brigit.  "  What  is  that  on  thy  back  ?"  saith  Brigit :  "  Salt,"  saith 
the  man.  "  It  shall  be  salt  then,"  saith  Brigit.  Salt  was  made 
again  thereof  through  Brigit's  word. 

On  a  time  came  two  lepers  unto  Brigit  to  be  healed.  Said 
Brigit  to  one  of  the  two  lepers  :  "  Wash  thou  the  other."  Thus  was 
it  done,  and  he  was  quite  sound  forthwith.  Said  Brigit  to  the  sound 
leper :  "  Bathe  and  wash  thy  comrade  even  as  he  did  service  unto 
thee."  "  Besides  the  time  that  we  have  [already]  come  together," 
says  he,  "  we  will  never  come  together,  for  it  is  not  fair  for  thee, 
O  nun,  (to  expect)  me,  a  sound  man  with  fresh  limbs  and  fresh 
clean  raiment,  to  wash  that  loathsome  leper  there,  with  his  livid 
limbs  falling  out  of  him."  However,  Brigit  herself  washed  the 
poor,  lowly  leper.  The  haughty  leper  who  had  been  washen  first, 
then  spake,  "  Meseems,"  saith  he,  "  that  sparks  of  fire  are  break 
ing  through  my  skin."  Swifter  than  speech  he  was  straightway 
smitten  with  leprosy  from  the  crown  of  his  head  to  his  soles, 
because  of  his  disobedience  to  Brigit. 

Another  time  as  Brigit  was  going  to  confess  to  the  bishop 
there  was  shewn  to  her  a  he-goat's  head  in  the  mass-chalice.  Brigit 
refused  the  chalice.  "  Why,"  saith  the  ecclesiastic,  "  dost  thou 
refuse  it  ?"  "  Not  hard  to  say,"  saith  Brigit,  "  this  is  why  I 
refuse :  the  head  of  a  he-goat  is  shewn  unto  me  in  the  chalice." 
The  bishop  called  the  gillie  who  brought  the  imaltoir  (credence- 
table  ?)  "  Make  thy  confessions,  O  gillie,"  saith  the  bishop. 
"  This  very  morning,"  saith  the  gillie,  "  I  went  to  the  goat-house, 
and  took  thereout  a  fat  he-goat,  and  his  flesh  I  ate."  The  gillie 
did  penance  and  repented.  Brigit  thereafter  went  to  confession, 
and  saw  not  the  semblance. 

Once  upon  a  time  came  seven  bishops  to  Brigit,  and  she  had 
nought  to  give  them  after  milking  the  cows  thrice.  So  the  cows 
were  milked  again  the  third  time,  and  it  was  greater  than  any 
milking. 

Once  upon  a  time  a  certain  nun  of  Brigit's  family  took  a 
longing  for  salt.  Brigit  made  prayer,  and  the  stone  before  her 
she  turned  into  salt,  and  then  the  nun  was  cured. 


82  Betha  Brigte,  Lel-ar  Brecc,  pp.  65*,  66*. 


Fecht  ann  din  boi  bachtarA  domw/rtir  brig/e  ocbein  chonnaid. 
Dorala  do  coromarb  petta  sindaig  larig  laigen.  rdhergab<&/  inbach- 
lach  lasinrig.  roforcongart  brigit  forsinnach  nallaid  taidech: 
caillid.  tanic  din  comboi  occlesrad  7  ocespai  donaslogaib  7  donrig 
l&forcongra  mbrig/e.  Oraforba  immurro  insindach  agnimrad 
dolluid  slan  foncaillid  7  sloig  laigen  et/r  chois  7  ech  7  choin 
innadegaid. 

Bado  fertaib  brigte  .i.  methel  mor  boi  aicce  ocbuain.  snigis 
fleochad  amuig  life.  7  nocorfer  banne  inagortsi  tr/a  ernaigthi 
mbrig/e. 

Ba  do  fertaib  brigte.  tv»nachais  inclarenech  comba.  slana 
adasiiil. 

Ba  do  f<?rtaib  \>rigfe.  tallsat  merlig  adamu.  tuarcaib  abann  liphe 
fr/u.  tancatar  nadoim  itech  iaraabarach  7  etaige  namerlech  f<?rana- 
darcaib. 

Ba  do  fertaib  brigte.  diatarla  si  cwjinmbandtrebthaig  .i.  co  [p. 
66*]  lassair  amuig  chail.  corusmarb  loeg  abo  dobrigit  7  coroloisc 
agarmain  foi.  Dorigne  dia  forbrigtf  c<7/nbahogslan  inngarmain 
iarnabarach.  7  boi  inloeg  immalle 


Fecht  and  tanic  brenaind  ahiarthar  erenn  dosaigthin 

liphfe.  uair  bamachtad  lais  inclu  boi  forbrigi/  ifertaib  ocus 
immirbulib.  Teit  brigit  onacaerchuib  dofailte  fr/  brenaind. 
tanic  brigit  isintech.  focerd  acochall  flinch  forbunnsachaib  n 
7  forailangaUzr  am<z/  drolu.  dixit  brenaind  fmgilla  achocholl  dochor 
forsnabunnsacha;^  c^na.  7  focerd  ingilla  form  cotorch<7/r  dib  fado. 
Focerd  brenaind  fen  intres  fecht  lafeirg  7  lond«j  cotarrasair  inco- 
choll  form. 

Cotarat  each  dib  achobas  diaraile.  Dixit  brenaind  nirbognath 
modul  tar  secht  nimarib  cen  mo  nvwmain  india.  Dixit  brigit 
O  doratwj  mo  m<rmnain  oenfecht  inndia.  nithucwj  ass  et/r. 


Diamboi  brigif  ocingaire  chaerech.  tanic  gataige  chuicce.  oetis 
tall  sfcht  mulm  uathi.  iaraahatuch  fortus.  araide  orohairmed  intret. 
foiitha  doridisi  namuilt  t/va  eraaigthi  mbrig/e. 


0/7  the  Life  of  St.  D  83 

Once  upon  a  time  a  bondsman  of  Brigifs  family  was  cutting 
firewood.  It  came  to  pass  that  he  killed  a  pet  fox  of  the  King  of 
The  bondsman  was  seized  by  the  King.  Brigit  ordered 
a  wild  fox  to  come  out  of  the  wood.  So  he  came  and  was  playing 
and  sporting  for  the  hosts  and  the  King  at  Brigit's  order.  But 
when  the  fox  had  finished  his  feats  he  went  safe  back  through 
the  wood,  with  the  hosts  of  Leinster  behind  him,  both  foot  and 
horse  and  hound. 

(This)  was  (one)  of  Brigit's  miracles.  She  had  a  great 
band  of  reapers  a-reaping.  A  rain-storm  poured  on  the  plain  of 
Liffey.  but.  through  Brigit's  prayer,  not  a  drop  fell  on  her  field. 

(This)  was  (one)  of  Brigit's  miracles.  She  blessed  the  table- 
faced  man,  so  that  his  two  eyes  were  whole. 

;is)  was  (one)  of  Brigit's  miracles.  Robbers  stole  her 
oxen.  The  river  Liffey  rose  against  them.  The  oxen  came  home 
on  the  morrow  with  the  robbers'  clothes  on  their  horns. 

.is)  was  (one)  of  Brigit's  miracles.  When  she  came  to 
the  widow  Lassair  on  Mag  Coel,  and  Lassair  killed  her  cow's  calf 
for  Brigit  and  burnt  the  beam  of  her  loom  thereunder,  God  so 

_-ht  for  Brigit  that  the  beam  was  whole  on  the  morrow  and 
the  calf  was  along  with  its  mother. 

Once  upon  a  time  Brenainn1  came  from  the  west  of  Ireland 
to  Brigit,  to  the  plain  of  Liffey.  For  he  wondered  at  the  fame 
that  Brigit  had  in  miracles  and  marvels.  Brigit  came  from  her 
sheep  to  welcome  Brenainn.  As  Brigit  entered  the  house  she  put 
her  wet  cloak  on  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  they  supported  it  like 
pot-hooks.  Brenainn  told  his  gillie  to  put  his  cloak  on  the  same 
rays,  and  the  gillie  put  it  on  them,  but  it  fell  from  them  twice. 
Brenainn  himself  put  it,  the  third  time,  with  anger  and  wrath,  and 
the  cloak  staid  upon  them. 

Each  of  them  confessed  to  the  other.  Said  Erenainn  :  -X. 
usual  is  it  for  me  to  go  over  seven  ridges  without  (giving)  my 
mind  to  God."  Said  Brigit :  "  Since  I  first  gave  my  mind  to  God. 
I  never  took  it  from  Him  at  all."3 

While  Brigit  was  herding  sheep,  there  came  a  thief  unto  her 
and  stole  seven  wethers  from  her,  after  having  first  besought  her 
(for  them).  Nevertheless,  when  the  flock  was  counted  the  wethers 
were  found  again  (therein)  through  Brigit's  prayer. 

1  Abbot  and  Bishop  of  Clonfert,  died  576. 

*  So  in  Lib.  Hymn,  16  b.,  Goidelka,  2nd  edition,  p.  134. 


84  Bethu  Brigte,  Lcbur  Brecc,  p.  66a. 

Tan  and  dorigne  araile  fer  dom««tir  brig/e  mid  dorfg  laigen. 
intan  ioiacht  inrig  diachaithem.  nifhtti  bande  de.  uair  tuc  "brigtt 
dob[o]chtaib  inmid  uli.  Atracht  brigti  foc^e/oir  dothesorcain 
intsloig.  corobranach  innalestra  7  roptar  lana  focMoir  domid 
thogaide.  Ar  cech  ni  conaitched  \>rigit  forsin  coimdid  dob<?rthea 
di  focheloir.  uair  bahe  asaint.  sassad  bocht.  dichor  ce^a  docc#/wla. 
airchisecht  cet^a  trogi. 

Mor  tra  dofertaib  7  domirbulib  fonindussin  dorinde  incoimdiu 
fornoembrigz'/.  ise  aairet  <wzachcumaing  nech  anindise.  acht  mine 
thisad  aspiri//  fadessin.  no  aingel  de  donim  dianindisi. 

Niroibe  tra  nech  ba  nairiu.  nabafe"li  indas  innoemogsin,  Ni- 
ronigestar  riam  alama  nach  acossa  na^acend  eter  feraib.  Nirod- 
fech  din  riam  innguis1  ferscali.  Nirolabra  et/r  cenlossi  di. 
Bahaintech.  bahendac.  bahernedach.  bafoitnech.  bafalid  itimnaib 
de.  bacobsaid.  bahuma/.  badilgedach  deshercach.  bacomra  coise- 
cartha  coimeta  chuirp  cmt.  batempol  de.  barigsuide  tairisme 
dospir^/  noem  acr?de  7  am^wma.  badiuit  fn'dia.  batorsech  dothrd^ 
gaib.  bahetrocht  hifertaib.  ISairesin  is^  asam<7/7  et/'r  dulib.  colum 
et?r  enaib.  finemain  et/r  fedaib.  gr/an  uasrennaib. 


IShe  ahathair  nanoemoigesi.  intatha/r  nemda.  ise  am^c  isu 
crt'st.  ise  ahaite  inspirut  noem.  <wzidairesin  dogni  innoemogsa  na 
mirbuli  mora  diairmidesi. 

IShi  fortoc/fc/aigess  dacer^oen  bis  hicwwca  7  inguasacht.  isf 
Iraethus  natedmanna.  isi  thoirnes  tonngar  7  ferg  rnmara  moir.  isi 
seo  bantairng<?rtaig  crist.  isi  rigan  indeisa'rt.  isi  muire  nan- 
goedel, 

Othanic  tra  c^nadedenchu  dobrigit  iarfothugad  chell  ocus 
chon[g]bal  nimda.  iarfcrtaib  7  adamraib  atta  h'n  gainem  mara.  no 
rendai  nime.  iarndeirc  7  iartrocaire.  Arroet  commaind  7  sacar- 
baicc  oninded  lamidan.  iartiachtain  do  ho  roim  letha.  7  rofdi 


1  leg.  ingnuis. 


On.  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  85 


A  certain  man  of  Brigit's  family  once  made  (some)  mead  for 
the  King  of  Leinster.  When  the  King  came  to  consume  it,  not 
a  drop  thereof  was  found,  for  Brigit  had  given  all  the  mead  to 
the  poor.  Brigit  at  once  rose  up  to  protect  the  host,  and  blessed 
the  vessels,  and  they  were  at  once  full  of  choice  mead.  For  every 
thing  which  Brigit  used  to  ask  of  the  Lord  used  to  be  given  to 
her  at  once.  For  this  was  her  desire  :  to  feed  the  poor,  to  repel 
every  hardship,  to  be  gentle  to  every  misery. 

Many  miracles  and  marvels  in  that  wise  the  Lord  wrought  for 
Saint  Brigit.  Such  is  their  number  that  no  one  could  relate  them 
unless  her  own  spirit,  or  an  angel  of  God,  should  come  from 
heaven  to  relate  them. 

Now  there  never  hath  been  any  one  more  bashful  or  more 
modest  than  that  holy  virgin.  She  never  washed  her  hands,  or  her 
feet,  or  her  head,  amongst  men.  She  never  looked  into  a  male 
person's  face.  She  never  spoke  without  blushing.  She  was  absti 
nent,  innocent,  liberal,  patient.  She  was  joyous  in  God's  com 
mandments,  steadfast,  lowly,  forgiving,  charitable.  She  was  a 
consecrated  vessel  for  keeping  Christ's  Body.  She  was  a  temple 
of  God.  Her  heart  and  her  mind  were  a  throne  of  rest  for  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Towards  God  she  was  simple  :  towards  the  wretched 
she  was  compassionate  :  in  miracles  she  was  splendid.  There 
fore  her  type  among  created  things  is  the  Dove  among  birds,  the 
Vine  among  trees,  the  Sun  above  stars. 

This  is  the  father  of  this  holy  virgin — the  Heavenly  Father. 
This  is  her  son — Jesus  Christ.  This  is  her  fosterer — the  Holy 
Ghost :  and  thence  it  is  that  this  holy  virgin  wrought  these  great 
innumerable  marvels. 

She  it  is  that  helpeth  every  one  who  is  in  straits  and  in 
danger.  She  it  is  that  abateth  the  pestilences.  She  it  is  that 
quelleth  the  wave-voice  and  the  wrath  of  the  great  sea.  This  is 
the  prophesied  woman  of  Christ.  She  is  the  Queen  of  the  South.1 
She  is  the  Mary  of  the  Gael. 

Now  when  Brigit  came  to  the  ending-days,  after  founding 
churches  and  churchbuildings  in  plenty,  after  miracles  and  won 
drous  deeds  in  number  (like)  sand  of  sea  or  stars  of  heaven,  after 
charity  and  mercy,  she  received  communion  and  sacrifice  from 
Ninnid  the  Pure-handed,2  when  he  had  returned  from  Rome  of 

1  Matthew,  xii.  42.     Luke,  xi.  31. 

2  Son  of  Echaid,  Abbot  of  Inis-maige-sam  (now  Inismacsaint),  an  island  in 
Lough    Erne.     Hearing    Brigit   prophesy  that  from  his  hand  she  should  receive 
the  viaticum  on  the  day  of  her  death,  he  enclosed  it  in  a  case  of  brass  and    kept 
the  case  continually  locked,  lest  the  hand  should  ever  be  denied.    Hence  the  name 
Lum-glan  or  Ldm-idun. — Todd,  Book  of  Hymns,  60,  61. 


86  Betha  Brigte,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  66a. 


aspir«/  dochumm  nime  iarsin.  Atat  immurro  atassi  7  arelgi  isna- 
talm<2«daib  cocadus  mor.  tw/ordan  7  conairechus.  cofertaib  ocus 
comfrbulib.  Ata  ahanimm  am<z/  gre'in  isinchathraig  nemda  etz'r 
classaib  aingel  7  archaingel  inoentaid  iruphin  7  saraphin  inoentaid1 
mete  mm're  .i.  insentaid  nanaemtrzhoite  uaisle  uile  athar  7  mic  ocus 
spiral  noib. 

Ailim  troccaire  inchoimdead  tria  impide  noembrigde  coris- 
sam  innaentaidsin  insaecula  sseculorum.     Amen.,. 

1  MS.  inaentaig. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Brigit.  87 


Latium,  and  sent  her  spirit  thereafter  to  heaven.  But  her  remains 
.and  her  relics  are  on  earth  with  great  honour  and  with  primacy 
and  pre-eminence,  with  miracles  and  marvels.  Her  soul  is  like 
the  sun  in  the  heavenly  City  among  quires  of  angels  and  arch 
angels,  in  union  with  cherubim  and  seraphim,  in  union  with 
Mary's  Son,  to  wit,  in  the  union  with  all  the  Holy  Trinity,  Father 
and  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

I  beseech  the  Lord's  mercy,  through  Saint  Brigit's  interces 
sion.     May  we  all  attain  that  union  in  scecula  sceculorum.     Amen. 


III. 

BETHA  CHOLUIM  CHILLE- 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  COLUMBA- 


BETHA  COLUIM  CHILLE  INCIPIT. 

Lebar  Brccc,  pp.  2g,b  30.* 


[E]xii  de  terra  tua  et  de  cognatione  tua  et  de  domo  patris  tui 
et  vade  in  terrain  quam  tibi  monstravero.  Facaib  dothir  7  dothal- 
main.  dochoibne1  colkzi/e.  7  tathardu  ridiles  erumsa.  7  eirg  isintir 
faillsigfetsa  duit. 

INcoimdid  fen  dorat  incomairle  cairdemailsea  dochind  nahzrsi 
forpthi  7  nacretmi  comlani  .i.  do  abraam  mac  tara  corofacbad  athir 
7  atalmam  fen  .i.  tir  chaldea.  7  cotisad  diaoilithre  isintir  rofaillsig 
dia  do  .i.  tir  tairngire. 


Moysi  immurro  mac  amra  tdisech  tuathi  d£  infer  rolinad  drath 
7  deolaidacht  inspir/0  noeb  ise  roscrib  incoibige  coisecarthasa  thall 
hingfliflris  rechta.  coromarad  dogres  iconectatf  inchomairle  cair- 
demail  dorat  incoimdiu  fodessin  do  abraam  doerail  aelithre  fair. 
conepert  fn'ss.  exi  de  terra.  Facaib  tiothir.  7  &o\.halmain  e.  s. 


Haec  quidem  istoria  nota  est.  abraham  a  domino  praeceptum 
fuisse.  ut  terram  caldeorum  desereret.  et  terram  repromisionis 
adiret.  [p.  3Oa].  ISscel  airdirc  isinscrzptuir.  incoimdiu  fen  diaerail 
for  abraam  facbail  tire  caldea  ropathardu  diles  do  7  tidecA/  dia 
oilithre  itir  thairngm.2  ardaig  inmaithiw^a  nobiad  do  fen  de  ocus 
diacloind  7  diaciniud  toranessi. 

ISte  hautem  abraham  caput  fidei  est  et  pater  omnium  fidelium 
sicut  dicit  apostolus.  infer  immurro  diatarut  dia  inchomairlisea  .i. 
abram  isesside  airmith^r  isinscnptuir  aratha/r  donahuli  iresechaz'3 
ama/  demniges  intasp^/  a?0apair.  Omnes  qui  sunt  ex  fide  hii  sunt 

1  Read  dochoibnes  ?  a  perhaps  tarrngeri. 


ON  THE  LIFE  OF  SAINT  COLUMBA. 


Exi  de  terra  tua  et  de  cognatione  tua  et  de  domo  pair  is  tui  et  vade 
in  terram  quam  tibi  monstravero.  '  Leave  thy  country  and  thy  land, 
thy  kindred  in  the  flesh,  and  thine  own  home,  for  My  sake,  and 
get  thee  into  the  country  that  I  will  shew  thee.' 

The  Lord  God  himself  gave  this  friendly  counsel  unto  the  head 
of  the  perfect  Faith  and  of  the  complete  Belief,  to  wit,  unto  Abraham 
son  of  Terah,  that  he  should  leave  his  own  country  and  land,  to 
wit,  the  country  of  Chaldea,  and  that  he  should  go  in  pilgrimage 
into  the  country  which  God  shewed  him,  to  wit,  the  Land  of 
Promise. 

Now  Moses  son  of  Amram,  chief  of  God's  people,  the  man 
who  was  filled  with  the  grace  and  the  favour  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
it  was  he  that  wrote  this  consecrated  text  there  in  Genesis  of 
the  Law  that  it  might  abide  perpetually  with  the  Church,  this  friendly 
counsel  which  the  Lord  himself  gave  to  Abraham  to  enjoin  pilgrim 
age  on  him,  when  He  said  unto  him  :  Exi  de  terra.  '  Leave  thy 
country  and  thy  land  for  My  sake.' 

Haec  quidem  historia  nota  est.  Abraham  a  Domino  praeceptum 
fuisse  ut  terram  Chaldeorum  desereret  et  terram  repromissionis  adiret. 
It  is  an  conspicuous  tale  in  the  scripture :  the  Lord  himself  enjoin 
ing  Abraham  to  leave  the  country  of  Chaldea,  which  was  his  own 
fatherland,  and  to  go  on  a  pilgrimage  into  the  Land  of  Promise, 
because  of  the  good  which  was  to  accrue  thereof  to  himself  and 
to  his  children,  and  to  their  descendants  after  them. 

Iste  autem  Abraham  caput  fidei  est  et  pater  omnium  fidelium,  sicut 
dicunt  apostoli.  The  man,  therefore,  to  whom  God  gave  this  coun 
sel,  to  wit,  Abraham,  it  is  he  that  is  accounted  in  the  scripture  as 
the  father  of  all  the  faithful ;  as  the  apostle  certified!  and  saith : 
Omnes  qui  sunt  ex  fide  hi  sunt  filii  Abraham.  "  The  sons  of  Abra- 


92  Bet  ha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  30*. 


filii  abrahae.  ISiat  m«c  abraham  iarfir  arintaspe>/  nahuli  nosinntam- 
laigend  oiris  forpthi. 

Quod  hautem  patri  fidelium  praecipitur.1  hoc  omnibus  filiis 
eius  implendum  relinquitur.  ut  terram  suam  deserant  et  carnalem 
patriam  derelinquant.  INmaith  din  roerail  dia  sund  for  athazr 
naniresech  .i.  forabram.  dlegar  dia  m<zcu  inadiaid.  .i.  donahuli 
iressachu  acomalliud  .i.  atir  7  atalmaz//.  anindmas  7  anairfited 
ssegulta.  dofhacbail  arincoimdid  nandula.  7  dul  anseletir  forpthi 
iarnainnsam#z7sium. 

Tres  hautem  sunt  modi  uocationum.  Otri  modaib  immurro 
thocuirith^r  nadoine  cohaichentz/.?  7  comunterus  inchoimded. 

primus  ex  deo.  ise  cetus  inc<?7na  mod  .i.  angr^sacht  7  anadan- 
nad  nanddine  onrath  diada  cotecat  domognam  donchoimdid  iarn- 
desmirecht  pdil  7  anntoin  man0z£  7  naman^f^  niresach  archena 
rofognatar  dodia  tall  isinegipt. 

secundus  per  hominem.  Tocuirth^r  din  nadaine  onmod  thah- 
aise  tmduine  .i.  tre'snaproceptorib  noemu  prz'tchat  inscrzptuir 
ndiada  donaddinib  iarndesmirechtsin  poil  aspwz'/  roprz'tchan  dogen- 
tib  conusiuc  tr/a  line  intsos<:e7a  dochumm  puirt  b^/had. 

tertius  ex  necessetate.  Tocuritlw  din  nadoine  ontresmod 
tnaecentaid  .i.  intan  chom^cnigth^r  frifognum  dodia  trz'athreblatib 
7  trza  gvassachtu  bais.  no  trza  deliugud  fn'snamaithib  aimserda 
imbit.  iarndesmb<?rechtsin  popuil  israel.  rochomthoi  com^icc  cosin- 
comdid  hoadrad  hidal  7  zrracht  iarnacomecnugw^  onatreblatib  ocus 
onadoccomla  fuaratar  onacinedaib  echtrandai  amal  indist<?r  isin- 
scrzptuir  noem.  Hinc  dabt'd  dicit.  conid  diaforcellsin  atb^z'r  infaith 
dabid.  Clamauerunt  ad  dominum  cum  tribulabantur  et  de  necesse- 
tatibus  eorum  liberauit  eos.  Ofogebed  pop«/  isr^l  tr^blati  ocus 
guassachtu  mora.  ^guided  7  noaitched  incomdid  corosaerad  iat 
donadoccomlaibsin. 

Abraam  ergo  diuina  gratia  instinctus  mandatum  quod  fuerat 
ei  imperatum  a  domino  impleuit.  et  exit  in  carran  in  qua  mortfu]  us 
es/  pater  eius  et  inde  transmigrant  in  terram  repromisionis.  Abram 
din  cend  nahirsi  forpthi  7  nacretmi  comlani.  orogrased  onrath 
diada  rochomaill  intimna  xoforcongrad  onchomdid  fair  .i.  dochuaid 
hitir  chaldea  cocarran  airm  inepilt  aathair.  7  tanic  asside  cotir 
thairngire. 

Tribus  hautem  modis  patria  deseritwr.  uno  inutili  et  duobus 
utilibus.  Aidt  immurro  tnVrnaile  ofacaib  nech  aathardai  intan 

1  Facs.  praecipltum. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  93 


ham,  in  truth,  saith  the  apostle,  are  all  who  resemble  him  in  per 
fect  faith." 

Quod  hautem  patri  fidelium  praeceptum  hoc  omnibus  filiis  ejus 
implendum  relinquitur,  ut  terrain  suam  deserant  et  carnalem  patriam 
derelinquant.  The  good,  then,  which  God  enjoined  here  on  the 
father  of  the  faithful,  to  wit,  on  Abraham,  it  is  incumbent  on  his 
sons  after  him,  namely,  on  all  the  faithful,  to  fulfil  it,  to  wit,  to 
leave  their  country  and  their  land,  their  wealth  and  worldly  delight, 
for  the  sake  of  the  Lord  of  the  Elements,  and  to  go  into  perfect 
pilgrimage  in  imitation  of  him. 

Tres  autem  sunt  modi  vocationis.  Now,  in  three  ways  are  men 
folk  cited  to  the  knowledge  and  to  the  friendship  of  the  Lord. 

Primus  ex  deo.  The  first  way  is  the  urging  and  the  kindling 
of  men  by  the  Divine  Grace  till  they  come  to  serve  the  Lord,  after 
the  example  of  Paul,  and  Antony  the  monk,  and  of  the  other  faith 
ful  monks  who  served  God  there  in  Egypt. 

Secundus  per  hominem.  Men-folk,  again,  are  cited  in  the 
second  way,  through  a  human  being,  to  wit,  through  the  holy 
preachers  who  preach  the  divine  scripture  to  the  men-folk  after 
that  example  of  Apostle  Paul,  who  preached  to  the  Gentiles  until 
he  brought  them  by  the  line  of  the  Gospel  to  the  harbour  of  Life. 

Tertius  ex  necessitate.  Men-folk,  then,  are  cited  in  the  third  way 
through  necessity,  that  is,  when  they  are  constrained  to  serve  God 
through  tribulations  and  through  dangers  of  death,  or  by  separation 
from  the  temporal  good  wherein  they  sojourn,  after  that  example 
of  the  people  of  Israel,  who  often  returned  to  the  Lord  from  the 
worship  of  idols  and  images  after  being  constrained  by  the  tribula 
tions  and  hardships  which  they  met  with  from  the  outland  tribes  ;  as 
is  told  in  the  Holy  Scripture  :  Hinc  David  dicit.  Wherefore  to  pro 
claim  that,  the  Prophet  David  declareth  :  Clamaverunt  ad  dominum 
cum  tribulabantur  et  de  necessitatibus  eorum  liberavit  eos.  Whenever  the 
people  of  Israel  underwent  tribulations  and  great  dangers,  they  used 
to  beseech  and  pray  the  Lord  to  free  them  from  those  hardships. 

Abraham,  ergo,  &c.  Abraham,  therefore,  the  head  of  the 
perfect  Faith  and  of  the  complete  Belief,  when  he  was  urged  by 
the  Divine  Grace,  fulfilled  the  command  which  was  enjoined  on  him 
by  the  Lord,  to  wit,  he  went  into  the  country  of  Chaldea  as  far 
as  Haran,  where  his  father  died,  and  he  came  thereout  to  the 
Land  of  Promise. 

Tribus  autem  modi's  patria  deseritur  uno  mutili,  et  duobus  utili- 
bus.  Now,  three  ways  there  are  in  which  one  leaveth  his  father- 


94     Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  30* — 3ob. 

teit  inaelethir.  7  ata  oen  dibside  arna  fagabar  fochmicc  odia  7  ado 
arafagabar.  Aliquando  enim  patria  corpore  tantum  relinquitur. 
nee  mens  a  carnalibus  studiis  alienatur.  nee  bona  opera  appetuntur 
.i.  tan  and  facbaid  nech  aathardai  ochurp  nama  7  nietarscarann 
arn^wma  fhpecdaib  7  dualchib.  7  nisantaig  sualchi  nasognim  dode- 
nam.  IN  tali  ergo  perigrinatione  nihil  nisi  afflictio  corporis  fit.1 
nullus  uero  anime  perfectus.  INaelithre  iarum  dognith<?r  zmlai'd 
sin  nifhasand  ditorad  no  tarbai  donanmain.  acht  ssethar  7  imlvad 
cuirp  codimain.  arissvail  atharbai  doneoch  ergi  aath<2rda  mine 
d^rnai  maith  nahecmais.  Nam  et  postquam  abraham  corpore  patria 
exivit2  tune  et  dominus  dixit.  Uair  cid  abraham  fen  isiarfacb^/7 
do  athire  dilis  7  isiarneterscara/  friss  iarcurp  dorat  incoimdiu 
incomarlise  do.  conepert.  exi  de  terra  tua.  ben  docheill  bud^/a  dotir 
7  dota\mam.  7  nabid  donvwma  rahimpod  ris  doridise.  Acsi  aperte 
[p.  3Ob]  diceret.  Carnalia  uitia  patriae  in  qua  fueras  corpore. 
mente  simul  et  corpore  deuita.  ama/  bided  atb^rad  dia  fein  cufollwj 
rehabraam.  imgaib  ochurp  7  oanmain  osund  amach  itailithri  pecdai 
7  dualchi  intire  inroatrebais  inallana  iarcurp.  vair  isinann  doneoch 
7  «0aittrebad  innaatharda  dianinntamlaiged  besa  aath^rda  inaaili- 
thri.  Non  enim  in  uia  pedum  sed  in  uia  morum  proximatur  ad 
dominum.  Uair  nocon  oset  choss  no  oimluad  cuirp  chomfocsiges 
nech  dodia.  acht  istrza  denam  sobes  7  sualach. 


Aliquando  mente  tantum  patria  relinquitur.  et  non  corpore. 
sicut  sunt  quidam  qui  quamuis  in  patria  peragunt  uitam  regione. 
patriam  tamen  uiuendo  carnaliter  non  norunt.  sed  iustis  causis 
quibusdam  cogentibus  in  suis  locis  manent  habitantes  quasi  non 
habitant^.  Fecht  aile  immurro  facaib  nech  aathardai  dduthra^/ 
cn'de  7  mmman  cencofacaib  ochurp.  am#/  docuirith<?r  donahord- 
nigib  tdchathit  ambetha  inatirib  fen  cobas.  arnosfastat  tuatha  ocus 
ecl^i  isnafera««aib  imbit  formet  atarba  dochach.  7  vair  na^  archol-. 
laidecht  tairisit  inanath^rdai  gebid  acainduthm^/  greim  noilithir 
doib  iconchomdid. 

Aliquando  mente  7  corpore.  ut  sunt  hii  quibus  dicitur.  Fecht 
aile  tra  foccaib  nech  a  afhardai  cocomlzn  ochurp  7  oanmain  am<z/ 
f<?racsat  indaps/#z7.  7  lucht  nahailithrz'  forpthi  diarotharngir  incoim 
diu  mormaith  isinsosce/a.  dianerbairt.  Uos  qui  dereliquistis  omnia 

1  Facs.  sit.  a  Facs.  exisit. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columba.  95 


land  when  he  goeth  into  pilgrimage,  and  there  is  one  of  these 
for  which  no  reward  is  gotten  from  God,  and  two  for  which 
(reward)  is  gotten.  Aliquando  enim  patria  corpore  tantum  relinqui- 
tur,  nee  mens  a  carnalibus  studiis  alienatur,  nee  bond  opera  appetuntur. 
Sometimes  a  person  leaveth  his  fatherland  in  the  body  only,  and 
his  mind  severeth  not  from  sins  and  vices,  and  he  desireth  not 
to  practise  virtues  or  good  deeds.  In  tali  ergo  per  egrinatione  nihilnisi 
afflidio  corporis  fit,  nullus  vero  animce  perfedus.  The  pilgrimage, 
therefore,  that  is  made  in  that  wise,  there  groweth  thereof  neither 
fruit  nor  profit  to  the  soul ;  but  it  is  a  labour  and  disturbance  of 
the  body  in  idleness,  for  it  little  profiteth  a  man  to  abandon  his 
fatherland  if  he  doeth  not  good  away  from  it.  Nam  et  post- 
quam  Abraham  corpore  patria  cxivit  tune  et  Dominus  dixit.  For  even 
unto  Abraham  himself,  on  leaving  his  own  country  and  on 
separating  from  it  in  the  body,  the  Lord  gave  this  counsel, 
when  He  said  :  Exi  de  terra  tua.  '  Take  thy  heed  henceforth  off 
'  country  and  land,  and  let  not  thy  mind  be  for  turning  thereto 
again.'  Acsi  aperte  diceret  carnalia  vitia  patria  in  qua  fueras  cor 
pore,  mente  simul  et  corpore  devita,  as  if  what  God  himself  had  mani 
festly  said  to  Abraham  was — '  Shun  both  in  body  and  soul  hence 
forth,  in  thy  pilgrimage,  the  sins  and  vices  of  the  land  wherein  thou 
hast  hitherto  dwelt  in  the  body ;  for  it  is  the  same  to  anyone  as 
if  he  still  dwelt  in  his  home  should  he  copy  in  his  pilgrim 
age  the  customs  of  his  home.'  Non  enim  in  via  pedum  sed  in 
via  morum  proximatur  ad  Dominum.  For  it  is  not  by  path  of  feet, 
nor  by  motion  of  body,  that  one  draws  nigh  to  God,  but  it  is 
through  practice  of  good  customs  and  virtues. 

Aliquando  mente  tantum  patria  relinquitur.  Another  time,  a 
person  leaveth  his  home  in  desire  of  heart  and  of  mind,  though 
he  leaveth  not  in  the  body,  as  it  happens  to  the  ordained,  who 
spend  their  lives  in  their  own  countries  till  death,  for  laymen 
and  clergy1  detain  them  in  the  lands  wherein  they  dwell,  because 
of  their  great  profitableness  to  all ;  and  since  it  is  not  for  the 
sake  of  the  body  they  abide  in  their  fatherland,  their  good  will 
availeth  them  with  the  Lord  as  a  pilgrimage. 


Aliquando  mente  et  corpore,  ut  stint  hi  quibus  dicitur.  At  another 
time,  then,  a  man  leaveth  his  fatherland  completely  in  body  and 
in  soul,  even  as  the  twelve  Apostles  left,  and  those  of  the  perfect 
pilgrimage  for  whom  the  Lord  foretold  great  good  in  the  gospel, 

1  Lit.  '  territories  and  churches.' 


96  Betha  Clioluim  Chille,  helar  Brecc,  p.  30 b. 

propter  me.  patrem  et  matrem  uxorem  filios  et  filias  agrum  et  omnia 
quae  habere  potuistis  centuplum  accipietis  in  hoc  seculo.  et  uitam 
eternam  in  future.  Denaid  airithe  de  seo  olfsu.  uathad  sochaide 
rothrecsib  formsa  bartir  7  bar  coibnes  collat'de.  barselb  7  barnoib- 
nius  saegulla  cofuidbi1  ac<?7  coibes  domaith  vaimsea  ifw  isintssegul 
7  isin  b^Maid  suthain  tall  iarfuigell  bratha. 


Hii  sunt  ueri  perigrini  qui  cum  psalmista  possunt  dicere. 
ISiatso  lucht  nahoilit^rz'  cdmlani  iarfir.  isanapersaind  atb«?rt  infaith 
iccomaidem  7  icatlugud  dodia.  Aduena  sum  apud  te  domine  et 
perigrinus  sicut  omnes  per  mundum.  Bmm  abuide  ritt  ade  arin- 
faith  isailit^n'  7  isdeoraidecht  dam  isintssegul  iarninntsama// 
nasruthi  remtechtach. 

Soch«2(/e  tra  domogadaib  dilsi  inchoimded  et/r  petarlaicc  ocus 
nufiadwtfzVe  rochomaillset  coforpthi  incomairle  chaintarbachsa  .i. 
fcracsat  ati'r  7  atalmam.  anathtzrdai  7  acoibnes  collaide.  arincoim- 
did  nandula.  7  dochotar  inoilit^rz'  toltanaig2  itirib  ciana  comaw- 
chuib.  feib  rochomaill  7  foracaib  aduchustalw^zh.  argrad  7  vaman 
inchoimded.  intardnoem  7  intardecnaid  7  mmac  toga  dodia 
diata  lith  7  foraithmet  inecmo/zg  innareesea  7  na  haimsire.  id  est 
sanctus  prespiter  columba  .i.  vasalsacart  innse  goedel.  inchoer 
comraicc  roheccrad  othallnib  7  odanaib  examlu  inspir/^  noem  .i. 
intii  noemchol#/rc  cilk  mac  iiftiwithe. 


isann  immurro  celebrait  nacm/aztfe  lith  7  sollamain  aetsechta 
colui'm  cille  hiqamtid  iuin  arai  lathi  mis  grene  cefl&abliadfe*  isinla- 
thise  indiu,  7  rl. 

INdisit  immurro  ecnaide  nangoedel  indinbuidsin  cecfabliadtie 
becan  cwwbair  donfoilsiug^3  socheneoil  7  sserchlanda^/a  noim- 
cholm'm  ct'lle.  7  din  donafertaib  7  donamirbulib  diairmide  doroine 
incoimdiu  aire  ifW  isintsaegul.  7  donforbai  7  donforciund  tsaine- 
mail  dorat  fadeoid  forarith  mbvadai  .i.  roc^tain  coafirathardai  ocus 
coafirduchus  fen  .i.  cohattr^  parrduis  ifr^cnarcwj  de  cosir. 


1  Read  cofuigbthi  ? 

2  MS.  toltanaid. 

3  Facs.  donforoilsiugwrf. 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Columla.  97 


when  he  said  :  Vos  qui  dereliquistis  omm'a  propter  me,  &c.  "  Take 
heed  of  this,"  saith  Jesus,  ["  ye]  few  of  many  who  have  forsaken 
for  me  your  land  and  your  fleshly  kindred,  your  wealth  and  your 
worldly  happiness,  that  ye  shall  receive  an  hundred-fold  of  good 
from  me  here  in  the  world  and  in  the  life  everlasting  yonder  after 
the  sentence  of  Doom." 


Hi  sunt  vert  peregrini  qui  cum  psalmista  possunt  dicere :  These 
are  they  of  the  perfect  pilgrimage  in  truth,  it  is  in  their  person  that 
the  prophet  spake  in  praise  and  in  thanks  to  God.  Advena  sum 
apudte,  domine,  et  peregrinus  sicut  omnes  per  mundum.  "  I  give  thee 
thanks  for  it,  O  God,"  saith  the  prophet,  "  I  have  pilgrimage  and 
exile  in  the  world  even  as  the  elders  who  went  before." 

Many  of  the  faithful  servants  of  the  Lord,  both  in  the  Old 
Law  and  the  New  Testament,  fulfilled  perfectly  this  kindly  profit 
able  counsel,  to  wit,  they  left  their  country  and  their  land,  their 
home  and  their  kindred  in  the  flesh,  for  sake  of  the  Lord  of 
the  Elements,  and  they  went  into  willing  pilgrimage  in  far-off 
lands  with  monks,  even  as  he  fulfilled  it  and  left  his  native 
country  for  the  love  and  fear  of  the  Lord,  he  the  high  saint  and  the 
high  sage  and  the  son  chosen  of  God,  for  whom  there  is  a  festi 
val  and  commemoration  at  the  occurrence  of  this  season  and 
of  this  time,  to  wit,  sanctus  presbyter  Columba,  to  wit,  the  noble 
priest  of  the  Island  of  the  Gael,  the  focal  ball1  which  was  inlaid 
with  the  diverse  talents  and  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  wit,  the 
holy  Colomb  Cille  son  of  Fedilmith. 

The  time  at  which  the  Christians  celebrate  the  festival  and 
hightide  of  Colombcille's  death  is  on  the  fifth  of  the  ides  of  June, 
as  to  the  day  of  the  solar  month,  every  year  on  this  very  day. 

Now,  the  wise  men  of  the  Gael  relate  at  that  season  every 
year  a  small  abridgment  of  the  setting-forth  of  the  noble  kin 
and  noble  descent  of  holy  Colombcille,  and  of  the  marvels  and 
miracles  innumerable  which  the  Lord  wrought  for  him  here  in  the 
world,  and  of  the  completion  and  special  end  which  he  gave  at 
last  to  his  victorious  career,  namely,  the  attaining  to  his  true  home 
and  his  own  true  native  country,  to  the  abode  of  Paradise  in  the 
presence  of  God  forever. 


1  Caer  comraic  was  a  ball,  or  something  in  which  various  colours  met  at  a 
common  centre. — E.  C. 


98     Bet  ha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  3ob,  31*. 

Uasal  \ra  acene'l  coluim  citte  illeth  intscegail  .i.  dochen/1  con&\\\ 
meic  neill  atacomnaic.  Toich  do  rige  nerenn  iarcenel  7  tarc«j  do 
minasleced  fen  vada  ardia. 


din  cwwbad  mac  toga  dodia  he.  vair  bator  sruthi  erenn 
ocathairc^/ul  renagenemain. 

Dorarngert  ceius  sinnser  sacart  nerenn  .i.  seanmochtai  lugbaid 
inti[p.  3ia]  colum  cille  cet  mbliadan  renagenemain.  vair  fechtus 
dolluid  achoic  mochta.  mac  rith  aainm.  7  coad  cno  inalaim  do. 
ftwerbairt  mochta  friss.  nilemsa  olse  inferann  asatartha  nacnoi  sin. 
taisig  iat  coti  inti  isaferann.  Cuin  doraga  sin  ol  incoicc.  ICind 
cet  mbliadan  armochta. 


Nognathaiged  din.  mochta  aaiged  fothuaid  acairnaigthe. 
nafiarfaigiti's  am««ter  de  cid  arandenad  sin  ut  dixit  fr/u. 

Macan  gignith^r  atuaid 

latwrcbail  nambitho. 

torthigeid  eriu  an  breo 

ocus  alba,  doinech  do. 

Dorarngert  tra  zthair  baitse  7  forcefail  nangoedel  .i.  patraic. 
diamboi  ocbetmzchad  conaill  isfth  seda.  intan  rofurim  adilaim  ior 
con&\\  7  foramac  for  krgus  mac  conaill  .i.  alam  dess  for  cend  fergwja 
7  alam  chle  for  [cend]  conaill.  Romoc^/naig  comll  sin.  7  roiar- 
faig1  de  cid  ararsamaig2  alamu  &mal  siut.  ut  dixit  patnhkr  inrannsa 


Genfid  rmzccan  diafine 
bid  sui  bid  faith  bid  file  7  rl. 
Bid  sui  7  bid  craibdech 
bid  abb  larig  narigrath 
bid  bvan  7  bid  bithmaith 
rombia  imbithlaith  diadidnad 
Dorinchan  ira  \>rigit  £0«epert 

Maccan  eithne  toebfotai 
sech  isbal  isblathugw^ 
colum  cille  can  cenon 
nirbo  rom  arathug«</. 

1  MS'  roiarfaid.  "^ 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  99 

Noble,  in  sooth,  was  the  kin  of  Colombcille  as  regards 
the  world,  to  wit,  of  the  kin  of  Conall  son  of  Niall,  is  he.  He 
had  in  right  of  kin,  a  choice  of  the  sovranty  of  Ireland,  and  it 
would  have  been  given  to  him  had  he  himself  not  put  it  from  him 
for  sake  of  God. 

It  is  manifest,  moreover,  that  he  was  a  chosen  son  of  God,  be 
cause  Ireland's  elders  had  been  prophesying  of  him  before  his  birth. 
Firstly,  the  eldest  of  the  priests  of  Ireland,  namely,  old  Moch- 
tai1  of  Louth,  foretold  Colombcille  an  hundred  years  before  his 
birth ;  for  once  upon  a  time  Mochta's  cook  (Macrith  was  his  name)2 
came  to  him  with  a  dish  of  nuts  in  his  hand  for  him,  whereupon 
Mochta  said  to  him:  "To  me  belongeth  not  the  land  whence 
those  nuts  have  been  brought.  Keep  them  until  he  whose  land  it 
is  shall  come."  "  When  will  he  come?"  saith  the  cook.  "At  the 
end  of  a  hundred  years,"  saith  Mochta. 

Mochta,  again,  was  wont  to  turn  his  face  to  the  north  when 
praying.  His  household  would  ask  him  why  he  did  so,  and  he 
said  to  them, — 

"  A  manchild  will  be  born  in  the  north 

At  the  uprising  of  the 

Ireland  grows  fruitful,  (a  splendid  flame) 

And  Scotland his." 

The  father  of  the  baptism  and  teaching  of  the  Gael,  name 
ly  Patrick,  when  he  was  blessing  Conall  at  Si'th  Aeda,  then  he 
placed  his  two  hands  on  Conall  and  on  his  son  Fergus  son  of 
Conall,  to  wit,  his  right  hand  on  the  head  of  Fergus  and  his  left 
on  the  head  of  Conall.  Conall  wondered  thereat,  and  he  asked 
him  why  he  placed  his  hands  in  that  wise,  so  Patrick  sang  this 
stave : — 

"  A  manchild  shall  be  born  of  his  family, 
He  will  be  a  sage,  a  prophet  and  a  poet,  &c.3 
He  will  be  a  sage,  and  he  will  be  pious, 
He  will  be  an  abbot  with  the  King  of  the  royal  ramparts, 
He  will  be  steadfast  and  he  will  be  ever  good, 
He  will  be  in  the  eternal  kingdom  for  his  consolation. 
Brigit  foretold  him  and  said : — 
"  Manchild  of  longsided  Ethne, 
He  is  bright,  he  is  a  blossoming, 
Colombcille,  clear  without  blemish, 
It  was  not  over  soon  to  perceive  him." 

1  Adamnan's  Maucteus,  a  Briton. 

a  See  Vita  S.  Maccratii,  ad  u  Aug.     Colg.  Tr.  Th.  449  a.  a.  14. 

*  Vide  supra,  p.  41. 


ioo         Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lebar  Brecc,  p.  31*. 

Dora[r]ngir  tra  espw  eogain  arda  sratha  dlanep<?rt. 
Mac  be'rthar  dofe'dlimid  bid  mind  fbrcechcleir 
fedhiwid  mac  fergus[a]  maic  conaill  male  n&ll 

Dorarngir  tra  boite  mac  bro*naig  invair  aetsechtai  intff  colut'm 
cille  conepertfn'amuntir.1 

Rogenair  isinoidchese  anocht  mac  an  oirmitnech  fiadia  ocus 
dainib  7  doraga  sund  icind  .xxx.  bli'adan  onocht.  dafer  .x.  din 
bid  he  ab'n.  7  ise  foillsigfides  moligisea.  7  torindfess  morelicc  ecus 
biaid  arnoentu2  hinim  7  itzlmain. 

Ama/  roterchanad  iarww  osruthib  erenn  gein  colutm  cille. 
isamla^  rofiugrad  ifi'sib  7  inaislingib  feib  rofiugrad  isintaidbsin 
larfas  diama/^a/r  .i.  andarlea  bratt  mor  dothaba/Vt  di  coro^t 
oindsib  mod  cocaer  nambrcw:c.  7  niboi  dodhathaib  dath  naboi  and. 
tc»»acca  oclach  in  etach  taitnemach  corruc  uathi  inbrat  isinser  ocus 
batoirsech  ethne  desin.  7  andarlee  tanic  intdclach  c//na  addochum 
dondise  conepert  fr/'asi.  A  ben  maith  arintoclaeh  nirice  aless 
toirse  dodenam.  acht  iscoru  duit  suba  7  forbailti.  uair  inmbratsa 
issed  doforne  ^wberasu  mac  7  bid  Ian  eri  7  albu  diaforcetul. 


ITwwnarc  tra  anben  imtha  sin  aislingthe  .i.  ethaite 
matf  andarlea  dobreith  inathir  ethne  focn'chaib  zierm  7  albaw, 
Rue  tra  ethne  fen  brez'M  f<?rinaisli[n]ge  sin.  7  ised  atb^rt  iar«w.- 
B^rutsa  orsi  mac.  7  rosia  aforptful  focrzcha^  tienn  ^  alban. 

Ama/  roterchanad  tra  osruthib  erenn  7  ama/  itcess  ifisib  roge- 
nir  colww  «7/e  amlaz^  gortan  din  ainm  inluicc  inrogenir.  iseptid 
clecimb/r  tra.  arai  lathi  mis  grene  rdgenir.  dardain  ditt'ar»i  lathi 


Amra  tra  inmac;rogenir  and  mac  rig  nime  7  talmas  .i.  colum 
CtZ/e   mat   fedhwid   m«f   ferg^a   mw-  w»aill  gulba/«  m«c  neill 


1  Facs-  .  ,       arnooentu. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  101 


Bishop  Eogan  of  Ardstraw  foretold  him,  when  he  said,— 
"  A  son  will  be  born  unto  Fedilmith,  he  will  be  a  diadem 

over  every  train. 
Fedilmith  son  of  Fergus,  son  of  Conall,  son  of  Niall." 

At  the  hour  of  his  death,  Boite  son  of  Bronach  foretold  Co- 
lombcille,  when  he  said  to  his  household :  "There  hath  been  born 
this  very  night  a  son,  splendid,  venerable  before  God  and  men,  and 
he  will  come  here  in  thirty  years  from  to-night.  Twelve  men, 
moreover,  will  be  his  company,  and  it  is  he  that  will  make  manifest 
my  grave  and  mark  out  my  cemetery,  and  in  heaven  and  on  earth 
our  union  shall  abide." 

Even  as  Colombcille's  birth  was  foretold  by  Ireland's  elders, 
so  was  it  figured  in  visions  and  in  dreams.  Even  so  it  was  figured 
in  the  vision  which  appeared  to  his  mother,  namely,  her-seemed 
that  a  great  cloak  was  given  her  which  reached  from  the  Isles 
of  Mod1  to  Caer  nam-Brocc,2  and  of  hues  there  was  not  a  hue 
that  was  not  therein.  And  a  youth  perceived  the  radiant  vesture 
and  took  away  from  her  the  cloak  into  the  air,  and  Ethne  was 
sorrowful  thereat,  and  her-seemed  that  the  same  youth  came  again 
unto  her  and  said  unto  her:  "O  good  woman,"  said  the  youth, 
*'  thou  hast  no  need  to  grieve,  but  meeter  for  thee  were  joyance 
and  delight,  for  what  this  cloak  portendeth  is  that  thou  wilt  bear 
a  son,  and  Ireland  and  Scotland  will  be  full  of  his  teaching." 

In  like  wise  the  woman  saw  a  vision,  namely,  the  birds  of  the 
air  and  of  the  land,  as  her-seemed,  bore  Ethne's  bowels  through 
out  the  borders  of  Ireland  and  Scotland.  Ethne  herself  gave 
judgment  on  this  vision,  and  thus  said  she  then :  "  I  shall  bear 
a  son,"  she  saith,  "  and  his  teaching  shall  reach  throughout  the 
borders  of  Ireland  and  Scotland." 

As  was  foretold  by  Ireland's  elders,  and  as  was  seen  in  visions, 
so  was  Colombcille  born.  Now  Gortan3  is  the  name  of  the  place 
wherein  he  was  born.  On  the  seventh  of  the  ides  of  December,  as 
regards  the  day  of  the  solar  month,  he  was  born.  On  Thursday  y 
of  the  days  of  the  week. 

Wonderful,  in  sooth,  was  the  son  that  was  born  there, — a  son 
of  the  King  of  heaven  and  earth,  to  wit,  Colombcille,  son  of 
Fedilmith,  son  of  Fergus*  son  of  Conall  Gulban,  son  of  Niall,  of 

1  The  Clew  Bay  islands  on  the  coast  of  Mayo,  Reeves'  Columba,  9 1 . 

2  Supposed   to   be   some   place  in   the  north-east  coast  of  Scotland,  Reeves' 
Columl-a,  pp.  191,  460. 

3  A  wild  district  in  the  county  of  Donegal,  ib.  Ixviii. 


102    Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  31*,  3ib. 

ndtgiallatg.  Amdthair  tra  dochorpngiu  laigen  .i.  ethne  dlmar 
\ngen  dima  mete  noee. 

Rucad  tmmurro  iarnabreith  foc/fo'/oir  corobaitsed  cruithnechan 
mac  cellachain  intuasalsacart.  7  rosail  iarsin  iarnarad  do  aingel 
de  ris. 

Otanic  tra  aimser  legind  dd.  luid  inclerech  coaraile  faith  bdi 
isintir  dia  iarfaigid  dd  cuin  bud  choir  tindsc^/ul  donmarc.  Orafeg 
infaith  nem.  ised  ztbert.  scrib  dd  innossa  aapgiter.  Roscrzbad 
iarsin  imbairgin.  7  isamlaid  doromailt  colum  cille  inbairgen  .i.  aleth 
friusce  anair  7  aleth  friusr<?  aniar.  Atb^rt  infaith  tmrath  faitsine. 
isamlaid  bias  ferand  inm«c  seo  .i.  aleth  fna  muir  anair  (.i.  inal- 
bain)  7  aleth  aile  frmmir  aniar  .i.  anein'w*. 


Nirbocian  iarsin.  luid  7  aaite  cobrugach  mac  ndega  cwsinep- 
scop  dorathaib  [p.  3ib]  muige  enaig  iti'r  e*nda.  Roherbad  fria- 
[a]itisium  fr/'sincl^rech  ord  sacairt  dode'nam  isinm^«dutsin  arinsol- 
kwain.  Rogab  tra  imnari  essium  corofhemid  insalm  ranic  dd 
dogabail.  Misericordias  dei  insalmsin.  gabais  tra  mac  inraith 
colum  cille  insalm  doraith  aaite.  acht  chena  nirolegsom.  acht 
aapgit^r  nama  remisin.  coromdrad  ainm  d^  7  coluim  cille.  tnasin- 
mirbuil  mdirsin. 


Fectwj  aile  luidsium  dothdrruma  duine  g&lat'r.  ocdul  doib 
tmchollid  tw^lid  coss  inclerig  f<?rsin^«air  conepil  de  cohopund. 
tucsom  achochall  fochend  inclerig.  Andarleis  isinachotlad  boi.  7 
gabaid  formebrugud  aaicechta  cucualater  aroli  caill^a  aairlegend 
cdarecMs.  ised  dorimet  eolaig  mile  colleith  eturru.  7  noclunti 
com^«icc  fogar  agothasw/w  inoiretsin.  ut  dixit — 


Son  agotha  coluim  cille 

mor  abinde  vas  cec^cleir 

cocend  coic  eel  dec  cemend 

aidble  reimend  ead  ba  reill. 

Tancutar  nacailkc^a  izrum  7  fuaratar  incle'recri  marb  foracmd 
7  artxrtsat  fr/sium  diiscad  inching  doib.  Teitsium  foc/fo'/oir 
dodwcad  inclerig;.  Atr^cht  din  inclerech  abas  labrethir  coluim 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Columla.  103 


the  nine  hostages.     His  mother  was  of  the  Corprige  of  Leinster, 
to  wit,  Ethne  the  Great,  daughter  of  Dimma  mac  Noe.1 

After  his  birth  he  was  straightway  taken  to  be  baptized  by 
Cruithnechdn,  son  of  Cellachan,  the  noble  priest,  and  he  fostered 
him  afterwards,  being  so  bidden  by  an  angel  of  God. 

Now,  when  came  the  time  for  him  to  read,  the  cleric  went  to 
a  certain  spaeman  who  was  biding  in  the  country,  to  ask  him  when 
the  boy  ought  to  begin.  When  the  spaeman  had  scanned  the 
sky,  he  said,  "  Write  for  him  his  alphabet  now."  It  was  there 
after  written  on  a  cake,  and  in  this  wise  Colombcille  ate  the 
cake,  to  wit,  half  thereof  to  the  east  of  the  water  and  the  other 
half  to  the  west  of  the  water.  The  spaeman  said,  through  the  gift 
of  spaedom,  "  So  shall  the  territory  of  this  son  be,  to  wit,  half 
thereof  to  the  east  of  the  sea,  that  is  in  Scotland,  and  the  other 
half  to  the  west  of  the  sea,  that  is  in  Ireland." 

Not  long  thereafter  he  and  his  fosterer  went  at  Christmas  to 
Brugach  son  of  Deg,  the  bishop,  to  the  Ramparts  of  Mag  Enaig 
in  Tir  Enda.*  It  was  entrusted  to  his  fosterer  the  cleric  to 
perform  a  priest's  duties  in  that  place  during  the  hightide. 
But  bashfulness  seized  him  so  that  he  could  not  (chant)  the 
psalm  that  came  to  him  to  chant :  Misericordias  Dei  was  that 
psalm.  Howbeit  the  gifted  son  Colombcille  sang  the  psalm  in  his 
fosterer's  behoof.  And  yet  theretofore  he  had  read  his  alphabet 
only.  And  God's  name  and  Colombcille's  were  magnified  through 
that  great  miracle. 

At  another  time  he  (Cruithnechan)  went  to  watch  by  a  sick 
person.  As  they  were  going  through  a  wood,  the  cleric's  foot  slipt 
on  the  path  and  thereof  he  suddenly  died.  Colombcille  put  his  cowl 
under  the  cleric's  head,  thinking  that  he  was  asleep,  and  began  to 
rehearse  his  lesson,  so  that  certain  nuns  heard  him  as  far  as  their 
cell.  The  learned  compute  that  there  was  a  mile  and  a  half  be 
tween  them,  and  the  sound  of  his  voice  was  often  heard  at  that 
distance,  ut  dixit  (poetd)  : — 

The  sound  of  Colombcille's  voice — 
Great  (was)  its  sweetness  above  every  train, 
To  the  end  of  fifteen  hundred  paces, 
Though  great  the  distance,  it  was  clear. 

Then  came  the  nuns  and  found  the  cleric  dead  before  them, 
and  they  told  Colombcille  to  bring  the  cleric  back  to  life  for  them. 
Straightway  went  he  to  bring  the  cleric  to  life.  The  cleric 

'  « latine  filius  nauis  dici  potest,'  Adamnan. 

2  now  Raymochy  in  the  barony   of  Raphoe,    Reeves'  Columla,   192,  in  the 
county  of  Donegal. 


104         Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  3ib. 

cille  zmal  bid  inachotlad  nobeth.  larsin  roedbairt  colum  cille 
donchoimdid  nandula.  7  cona.tta.ig  teora  itge  vad  .i.  dge  7  ecna  ocus: 
Q\\\lhri.  dorata  dd  atrmr  cocomlan. 


Celebrais  \&rum  dia  aite.  7  dorat  intaite  cet  7  bmnac^/ain  do 
codichra. 

Luid  iarum  dofogluimm  ecnai  czmnuasaleps^  .i.  cofinden 
muigi  bile. 

Fechtwj  and  testa  fin  [7]  bairgen  olfinde'n  onaiffriund.  benna.- 
chais  colum  cille  inusc^  corsoad  hii'm  cotartad  isin  coilech  naiffrmd. 
Romorad  ainm  de  7  coluim  cille  desin. 

Celebrais  mum  doAnden.  7  luid  cogemman  magi  s  .  .  . 

Fectwj  dosum  icdenam  aaicechta  icgeman  Vc»«acutar  ingen 
andochumm  forteichiud  rianaroli  duniorcnid  cotorchatr  inafiadnaz'je 
7  cor^marb  induidlid.  rofurim  colum  cille  bre/^ir  nescaine  fair 


Celebrais  izxum  dogemmdn  7  luid  cofinddn  cluana  eraird. 
dofinden  ciahairm  andingned  aboith.  atb^rt  finden. 
denad  indorus  nacille.  Dorignesium  tra.  aboith  7  nirbo  indorw^ 
nacille  induairsin.  Mbertsum  chena  robad  he  dorus  nacat^^ach 
iartain.  7  rocomallad  tra  annisin. 

Feis  aidche  «<?meled  abroin  cer^fer  arnuair  donahapste/aib. 
aingel  de  nime  tra  nomeled  doraith  coluim  cz"//e.  ba  hisin  onoir 
dob^red  incoimdm  dosom  arasochen//chi  sech  each. 

Taidbsiu  tarfas  tan  ele  dofinden  .i.  da  esca  dotwrcabail  ocluain 
eraird  .i.  escai  ordaige  7  escai  aile  airgide.  Luid  intescai  ordai 
ituaiscert  nahiridsi  corolas  heri  7  alba  desium.  luid  intescai  airgide 
corogab  imonsinaind  corolas  eri  armedon  de.  Colum  cille  conor 
asocheneoil  7  aecnai.  et  ciaran  mac  intshair  indairged.  cotaitnem 
ashualach  7  asognim. 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Columla.  105 

arose  out  of  death  at  Colombcille's  word  even  as  if  he  had 
been  asleep.  Thereafter  Colombcille  offered  (himself)  to  the 
Lord  of  the  Elements,  and  begged  three  boons  of  Him,  to 
wit,  chastity  and  wisdom  and  pilgrimage.  The  three  were  fully 
granted  him. 

He  then  bade  farewell  to  his  fosterer,  and  the  fosterer  gave 
him  leave  and  a  fervent  blessing. 

Then  he  went  to  learn  wisdom  to  the  high  bishop,  namely,  to 
Finden  of  Movilla. 

At  a  certain  time  wine  and  bread  were  lacking  unto  Finden 
for  the  mass.  Colombcille  blessed  the  water  and  it  turned  to 
wine,  and  was  put  into  the  offertory-chalice.  God's  name  and 
Colombcille's  were  magnified  through  that  miracle. 

He  then  bade  farewell  to  Finden  and  went  to  Gemman1  of 
Mag  S.  .  .  .  Once  while  he  was  reading  his  lesson  to  Gemman, 
they  saw  a  girl  fleeing  towards  them  before  a  certain  manslayer, 
and  she  fell  down  in  their  presence  and  the  ....  killed  her. 
Colombcille  set  a  word  of  banning  upon  him,  and  he  died  forth 
with. 

He  then  bade  farewell  to  Gemman  and  went  to  Finden  of 
Clonard.  He  asked  Finden  where  he  should  build  his  booth. 
Said  Finden :  "  Make  it  in  the  door  of  the  church."  He  then 
built  his  booth,  and  it  was  not  in  the  door  of  the  church  at  that 
time.  He  said,  however,  that  it  would  afterwards  be  the  door 
of  the  city,  which  thing  was  also  fulfilled. 

Each  of  the  apostles3  used  in  turn  to  grind  a  night's  meal  in 
a  quern.  An  angel  of  God  of  heaven  used  to  grind  on  behalf  of 
Colombcille.  That  was  the  honour  which  the  Lord  rendered  him, 
because  of  the  nobleness  of  his  kin  beyond  the  others. 

At  another  time  there  appeared  unto  Finden  a  vision,  to  wit, 
two  moons  arose  from  Clonard,  a  golden  moon  and  the  other  a 
silvery  moon.  The  golden  moon  fared  into  the  north  of  the 
island,  and  Ireland  and  Scotland  glistened  thereby.  The  silvery 
moon  fared  on  till  it  stayed  by  the  Shannon,3  and  Ireland  at  her 
centre  glistened  thereby.  Colombcille  (was  the  golden),  with  the 
gold  of  his  noble  kin  and  his  wisdom,  and  Ciaran  the  Wright's 
son  (was)  the  silver  moon,  with  the  refulgence  of  his  virtues  and 
his  righteous  deeds. 

'  Adamnan's  Gemmanus,  Reeves'  Columba,  137. 

2  Twelve  celebrated  Irish  Saints,  of  whom  Colombcille  was  one — Todd, 
JSt.  Patrick,  99. 

3  i.  e.,  at  Clonmacnois. 


io6  Bet/ia  Cliolidm  Chillc,  Lebar  Brecc,  pp.  3ib — 32*. 


Celebrais  iarum  colum  cille  dofinne'n.  7  luid1  coglais  noiden. 
vair  boi  .1.  icfogluimm  isindiisin  icmobii.  imchaindech  7  imchom- 
gall  7  imchiaran.  Ambotha  immurro  friusce  aniar.  Adaig  and  ecus 
robenad  incloc  imiarmergi.  Luid  colum  cille  doneclats.  Lia  mor 
isinoidche  sin  isinabaind.  Luid  araide  colum  cille  cona.eta.ch  trethi. 
iscalma  tecair  annsin  anocht  aua  neill  ol  mobii.  istualngi  dia 
arcolum  cille  insaethar  dodigbail  dinne.  Octidecht  doib  asindecWj 
cw*accutar  nabotha  frihusce  anair.  icomfochruib  naheclaji. 


Yectus*  ann  doronad  eclas  mor  lamobfi.  7  batar  naclerig 
icaimrad.  cia  Ian  bud  mian  lacach  dib  dobeth  occai  isineclaz'j. 
Ropadmaith  lemsa  olciaran  allan  domacu  eclasi  doathigid  natrath. 
ropadmaith  lemsa  olcaindech  allan  dolebrair  diafognam  domacaib 
bethad.  ropad  maith  lemsa  olcomgall  allan  dosaeth  7  gakr.  dobeth 
amchurp  uodessin  domtraethad  7  domtimorcuin.  Dor[o]ega  tra 
colum  cille  allan  de  or  7  argut  docilmtach  mind  7  manistrech  de. 
Albert  mobii  nabad  samail.  acht  ropad  saidbrm  [p.  32a]  samad 
coluim  cille  oka's  ccch  samad  ettr  emnn  7  albain. 


Atbert  mobii  fraadaltaib  dergi  indinaid  imbatar.  ar  donicfad 
teidm  anaichnid  ann  .i.  inbuide  dionaill.  7  atb^rt  beos  iri  colum 
cille  narogabad  ferand  corodeonaig^  desium.  Luid  each  dib 
alethi  iarsin.  Luid  colum  cille  icen/1  cona.i\\  ed  docuaid  darinabaind 
dianad  ainm  biur.  Annsin  atb^rtsom  bir  fn'fochainne.  7  nithom<r^/ 
tra  inteidm  seca  sin.  7  isfirt  bitbeo  beos  sin.  vair  ce^teidm 
b^rthair  taris.  nilen  secha  sin  iarmbrethir  coluim  cille. 


Luid  colum  cille  ia.rum  dodaire  .i.  rigdiin  aeda  meic  ainmirech. 
barf  erenn  esside  intansin.  Hidprais  inri  indiinsin  do  colum  cille 
7  opaidsium  fobith  timmna  mobii.  ICtidecht  tra  dosum  asindiin 
imach  fondricc  fmdiis  domunntir  mobii  7  criss  mobii  occai  dosam 
7  deonugud  feraind  do  gabail  iarne'c  mobii.  ut  dixit  colum  cille. 


Criss  mobfi 

niptar  simne  immloa 

'  Facs,  something  like  biid.  2  accent  over  t. 


On  ike  Life  of  St.  Columla.  107 


Colombcille  then  bade  farewell  to  Finde"n  and  went  to  Glas- 
nevin,1  for  there  were  fifty  studying  in  that  place  with  Mobii, 
together  with  Cainnech,  and  with  Comgall,  and  with  Giaran. 
Now  their  huts  were  to  the  west  of  the  water.  One  night  the 
bell  for  nocturns  was  rung.  Colombcille  fared  to  the  church. 
There  was  a  great  flood  in  the  river9  that  night.  Nevertheless, 
Colombcille  fared  through  it  with  his  raiment.  "  Bravely  comest 
thou  there  to-night,  O  descendant  of  Niall !"  said .  Mobii :  "  God 
is  able  (?)"  said  Colombcille,  "to  take  the  labour  from  us." 
When  they  were  coming  out  of  the  church,  they  saw  the  booths 
to  the  east  of  the  water  near  to  the  church. 

Once  upon  a  time  a  great  church  was  built  by  Mobii,  and  the 
clerics  were  a-thinking  what  full  (thereof)  each  of  them  would  wish 
to  have  with  him  in  the  church.  "  I  should  like,"  said  Ciaran : 
"  its  full  of  church-students  to  attend  at  the  (canonical)  hours." 
"  I  should  like,"  said  Cainnech,  "  its  full  of  books  for  the  service 
of  the  Sons  of  Life."  '  I  should  like,"  said  Comgall,  "  its  full  of 
affliction  and  disease  to  be  in  my  own  body,  to  subdue  and  to 
repress  me."  Colombcille  chose  its  full  of  gold  and  silver  to  cover 
God's  relics  and  shrines.  Mobii  said  that  it  should  not  be 
so  (?),  but  that  Colombcille's  congregation  should  be  wealthier 
than  any  congregation,  both  in  Ireland  and  Scotland. 

Mobii  told  his  fosterlings  to  leave  the  stead  wherein  they 
were,  for  that  there  would  come  an  unknown  pestilence,  to  wit,  the 
Buide  Chonaill3,  and  he  said,  besides,  to  Colombcille,  that  he  should 
not  take  territory  until  he  permitted  him.  They  fared  forth,  there 
after,  each  of  them  his  own  way.  Colombcille  fared  into  Tircon- 
nell  some  distance.  He  went  over  the  river  the  name  whereof 
is  Biur.  There  he  said  :  "  Biur  against  pestilence !"  And  the  pes 
tilence  did  not  go  past  that,  and  it  is  an  ever-living  miracle  still, 
because  any  pestilence  that  is  carried  over  it  follows  no  farther 
than  that,  according  to  Colombcille's  word. 

Then  fared  Colombcille  to  Deny,  to  the  chief  stronghold  of 
Aed  son  of  Ainmire,  who  was  King  of  Ireland  at  that  time.     The 
King  offered  that  stronghold  to  Colombcille,  and  he  refuseth  it, 
because  of  Mobii's  command.     Howbeit,  on  his  coming  forth  out 
of  the  stronghold  he  met  with  two  of  Mobii's  household,  having 
Mobii's  girdle  for  him  and  consent  to  take  territory,  Mobii  having 
died.     So  Colombcille  said  : — 
"  Mobii's  girdle 
Rushes  were  not  round  .  .  .  (?) 

1  North  of  the  Liffey,  near  Dublin.     2  The  Tolka.     3  Reeves'  Columba,  182,  183. 


io8         Bet  ha  Cholulm  Ch'dle,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  32*. 


sech  niroslaiced  fnsaith 

nirohiadad  immgoa. 

Ga[ba]is  colum  cille  iarsin  hiiidiin  aeda  7  fothaigis  ec\ais  and 
cofirtaib  hile  dodenam  innte. 

Fecht  and  foididsium  amanchu  isincoillid  dobuain  choelaig 
dociimtach  eck^i  accai  indaire.  isand  roboinged  incoelach  iferund 
aroile  dclaig.  boi  ifochraib  donrecle's.  Badocr«d  tra  dosum  infin- 
dach  dobuain  inaferond  cendeonugw*/  do  fode'n.  Otchuala  tra 
colum  ctlle  innsin.  atb^rt  fnamuntir  bmd  olse  log  afeda  do  dog/vm 
eorna  7  curid  isintelmain.  Dochuaid  immurro  tarmeddn  samraid 
intansin.  Rucad  iarww  ingr^n  donoclach.  Rolaside 
ocus  rofas  combahabaid  immlugnasad  iarsin. 


Feet  dosum  indoire.  dob^rt  lenam  bee  chuice  diabaits^. 
niboi  tra  usce  ifochraib  do.  cotarutsww  sigin  nacrochi  darsincarraic 
boi  inafiadwawe.  corremuid  topar  usa  esti  7  corbaits^  inlenam  ass 


Tan  aile  dosam  indoire  laium.  7  nosimraid  dula  doroim  ocus 
doierusalem. 

Luidsium  fect«j  aile  odoire  cutorinis  martain  conw^tuc  inso- 
sce'fa  boi  forbroinnib  martain  eel  mbli'adan  itelmam  c^^facaib 
indoire. 

Mor  Ira   dofertaib    7   mi'rbulib   dorigne  dia    for  colum  cille 
indoire.     Rocarsww  immurro  comor  incat/$raig  sin  f^wepert. 
ISaire  charaimm  doire 
araredi  aragloine 
arislomnan  aingel  find 
onchind  amice  aroile. 

Fothaigis  iarsin  colum  cille  rath  mboth.  innsin  rothdd^castor 
insaer  abas,  iarnabathud  illind  inmulind. 
• 

Hiraith  both  beous  testa,  socc  foramwwtirsium.  corosb^«nach- 
sum  lama  inm«?/c  bice  boi  inafail.  fergna  [a]ainmsi«w  <r^»d^rnaside 
insocc.  7  baheolach  goibnechta  he  osin  imach  tr/anabmnachadsom. 

Luid  iarww  forcuairt  procepta  corig  tethba  .i.  aed  mac  brenaind 
aainmsium.  cotaruts^e  do  ininud  hita  dermach  indi'u. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columba,  109 

"  It  never  was  opened  against  surfeit : 
It  never  was  closed  on  lies." 

Colombcille  thereafter  settled  in  Aed's  stronghold  and  found 
ed  a  church  there  and  wrought  many  miracles  therein. 

Once  upon  a  time  he  sends  his  monks  into  the  wood  to  cut 
wattling  for  building  a  church  for  him  in  Derry.  Where  the 
wauling  was  cut  was  in  a  certain  warrior's  land  which  lay  near 
the  cell.  Now  he  was  vexed  that  the  timber  was  cut  in  his  land 
without  his  own  consent.  So  when  Colombcille  heard  of  that  he 
said  to  his  household  :  "  Take  him,"  saith  he,  "  the  price  of  his 
wood  in  barley-grain,  and  put  it  into  the  earth."  Now  at  that  time 
it  had  passed  midsummer.  The  grain,  however,  was  brought  to 
the  warrior.  He  cast  it  into  the  ground,  and  it  grew  and  was 
ripe  on  Lammas-day1  thereafter. 

Once  when  he  was  in  Derry,  a  little  child  was  brought  to 
him  to  be  baptized.  There  was  no  water  near  to  him.  He  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  rock  that  lay  before  him,  and  a 
wellspring  of  water  brake  therefrom,  and  therewith  the  child  was 
then  baptized. 

Another  time  afterwards  he  was  in  Derry,  and  he  thought 
of  going  to  Rome  and  to  Jerusalem. 

He  went  at  another  time  from  Derry  to  Tours  of  Martin, 
and  brought  away  the  gospel  that  had  lain  on  Martin's  breasts 
an  hundred  years  in  the  ground,  and  he  left  it  in  Derry. 

Many  were  the  marvels  and  miracles  which  God  wrought  for 
Colombcille  in  Derry.     He  loved  that  city  greatly  and  said, — 
"  For  this  do  I  love  Derry, 
For  its  stillness,  for  its  purity, 
For  it  is  quite  full  of  white  angels 
From  one  end  to  the  other." 

Thereafter  Colombcille  founded  Raphoe.8  It  was  there  he 
brought  back  from  death  to  life  the  wright  who  had  been  drowned 
in  the  millpond. 

In  Raphoe,  moreover,  his  household  lacked  a  ploughshare, 
whereupon  he  blessed  the  hands  of  the  little  boy  that  was  with  him 
(Fergna  was  his  name),  and  Fergna  made  the  share,  and  he  was 
skilful  in  smithwork  thenceforth  through  Colomb's  blessing. 

He  went  afterwards  on  a  preaching  round  to  the  King  of 
Teffia.3  Aed  son  of  Brenann  was  his  name,  and  Aed  gave  him 


1  in  principiis  Augusti  mensis,  Adamnan. 
2  In  Tirconnell.  3  A  large  territory  in  Westmeath. 


no  Bet  ha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  pp.  32* — 32b. 


recles  aicesium  indsin.  INdermuig  din  twctha  ubla  s<?rua  dosam 
corw-yb^mach  iat  comtar  millsi.  7  isdodermuig  rucad  uzdsum 
cloidem  se"nta  do  cholman  mor  mac  diarmuta.  ise  rath  boi  forin- 
cloidem  r0«ahaplad  nech  inafrecnarcwj.  conaitchess  iwum  oraile 
duine  boi  ingalur.  7  tucad  do  inclaidem  comboi  occa.  blt'adan  Ira 
dondaidem  acca.  sech  nirba  beo  nirba  marb  inoiretsin  coruccad 
mdai'dem  vad  iarww  7  conepil  focMoir.  Arsin  tra  robetmachsum 
dermach  7  foracaib  cometaid  diamw«tir  ann.  .i.  cormac  ua  liathan. 


Luidsium  iarww  cohaed  slani  mac  hdiarmata.  Taraill  cusin- 
magin  hita  cenandas  indiu  .i.  dun  rig  erenn  hesede  intansin.  dun 
diarmata  mete  cerbaill.  Orofuirged  tra  colum  cille  indoras  induine 
rosgab  fertairch<?/ul  inneich  nobiad  donbaile  iartain.  conepert  fri 
becc  mac  dead  .i.  rigfaith  diarmata  meic  cerbaill. 


A  bice  indissiu  damsai 
cenandw^  lethan  f^rglan 
[p.  32b]  citne  clerig  notrefet 

citne  oic  notndeirget. 
ut  dixit  bee— 

Clere  fila  fcralar.  canta  molta  mate  thigirnd 

Scerdait  aoicc  fnatairsech.  biaid  aimser  basinill. 

Torinnis  iarum  incat/$raigsin  inmod  ofil.  7  b<?«nachais  hi 
dole*ir.  7  atb^r/  ropad  hi  congbail  budardi  nobiad  accai  isnatal- 
mawtaib  cencobad  innte  nobeth  aesergi.  7  ocdenam  dosom  nafat- 
sine  sin  dorat  aaiged  siardess.  7  rofaitfestar  comor.  Roiarfaig 
boithm  fath  nafailte  .L.  mac  bethad  ar  colum  cille  geinfess  inoen 
oidche  don  coimdid  isindimorachsa  thiar  .i.  grafann  chille  scire 
rothirchansw^z  and  sin.  feib  rocomailled  iartain. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columba.  111 


the  site  whereon  is  Durrow1  this  day,  and  a  cell  was  built  by  him 
there.  In  Durrow,  moreover,  bitter  apples  were  brought  to  him, 
and  he  blessed  them,  and  they  became  sweet.  And  it  was  from 
Durrow  that  a  sained  sword  was  taken  from  him  to  Colman  the 
Great,  son  of  Diarmait.*  The  virtue  that  lay  in  that  sword  was 
that  none  could  die  in  its  presence.  And  it  was  afterwards  begged 
by  a  certain  man  who  was  in  sickness,  and  the  sword  was  given 
to  him,  and  he  had  it.  A  year  was  that  sword  with  him,  and 
during  that  time  he  was  not  alive,  and  he  was  not  dead.  Wherefore 
the  sword  was  afterwards  taken  away  from  him,  and  he  died  at 
once.  So,  therefore,  Colombcille  blessed  Durrow,  and  left  therein  a 
warden  (one)  of  his  household,  namely,  Cormac  descendant  of 
Liathan. 

Then  he  went  to  Aed  Slaine  son  of  Diarmait.  He  came 
to  the  place  where  Cenannus3  stands  at  this  day ;  it  was  the  King  of 
Ireland's  stronghold  at  that  time,  the  stronghold  of  Diarmait  son 
of  Cervall.  When  Colombcille  was  delaying  at  the  door  of  the 
stronghold,  he  began  to  foretell  what  should  befall  the  place 
afterwards,  and  he  said  to  Becc  son  of  De,  Diarmait  son  of 
Cervall's  chief-spaeman  : — 

"  O  Becc,  tell  thou  to  me, 

Cenannus  the  wide,  pure-grassed, 

Whether  clerics  dwell  in  it, 

Whether  warriors  abandon  it  ?" 
Ut  dixit  Becc— 

"  The  trains  who  are  amidst  it  shall  sing  praises  of  the 
Lord's  Son, 

Its  warriors  shall  depart  from  its  threshold,  there  will  be 

a  time  when  it  will  be  secure." 

He  then  marked  out  that  city  in  the  manner  in  which  it  is,  and 
blessed  it  vehemently,  and  said  that  it  would  be  the  noblest  church- 
building  he  should  have  on  earth,  although  his  resurrection  would 
not  be  therein.  And  when  he  was  making  that  prophecy  he  set 
his  face  to  the  south-west,  and  laughed  greatly.  Boethfn  asked 
the  cause  of  the  gladness.  "  Fifty  sons  of  Life,"  said  Colombcille, 
"  will  be  born  in  one  night  to  the  Lord  in  this  border  (?)  to  the 
west."  It  was  Grafann  of  Cellscire4  he  foretold  then,  as  was 
afterwards  fulfilled. 

1  Dair-mag  '  campus  roborum,'  in  the  north  of  King's  County. 
8  See  Reeves'  Columba,  249,  252. 

3  Now  Kells  in  Meath. 

4  Now  Killskeery  in  Meath. 


Betha  C/ioluhn  CkiUc,  Lebar  Brecc,  p. 


Dair  mor  ira  foraba  colum  ci/le  cein  bdi  isinmaiginsin.  romar- 
usiar  indairsin  cocian  daimseru  cotorchair  tmdeilm  ngaithe  mori. 
conusruc  aroli  fer  ni  danuc  dochoirtged  achuaran.  orogab  ira  uime 
achuarana  iarnacoirtged.  rolen  claime  obiind  coabathis. 


Luid  \dxum  colum  cille  cohsed  slane  condemn  fatsine  do.  cone- 
pert  frts  ropad  sirsaeglach.  acht  minbad  fmgalach.  diandernat 
immurro  fingal  nibiad  acht  cethri  blizdna  diasaegul. 

Rose*nustar  ira  cochall  do.  7  atb^r/  nigonfaide  cein  nobeth 
incochall  sin  imme.  Darone  immurro  3ed  slane  finghal  darbrethir 
coluim  chille  forsuibne  mac  colmam.  ICind  .fin.  mbliadan  izrum 
luidsium  forfecht.  d^rmatis  achochull.  marbthar  isindldsin. 

Fothaigis  colum  cille  iarsin  cella  immda  immbregaib.  facbais 
ira  sruthi  7  minda  hile  inntib.  Facbais  ossine  mac  cellaig  icluain 
mor  fer  narda.  Luid  iarsin  do  manistir.  isandsin  rosben  abachall- 
som  fh'sinarrad  ngloine  fr/'sro[f]resgab  buite  documm  nime.  coclos 
afogwr  fcSncill  uli.  7  rofoillsig  lige  mbuite.  7  dororaind  achill  ama/ 
dorarngert  bilite  fodessin  illo  aetsechta.  arismor  do  chellaib  doro- 
raindsium  7  dolebraib  roscrib.  ut  dixit  infile. 


Tri  c<#  dororaind  cenmannair.  dochelkz'3  cainib  isfir. 
is  tri  cet  buadach  trebon.  lebor  solas  saer  roscnb. 

Cipe  lebor  ira  noscribad  alam.  cidfota  nobeth  fous«'nisbaithed 
cid  enlitt^r  and. 

Fothaigis  eclat's  irrachraind  oirthir  breg.  7  facbais  colm^« 
deochain  innte.  Fectwj  bater  isineckwsin  .i.  colum  cille  7  cdmgall 
7  caindech.  Asb^rt  comgall  condernzd  colum  cille  hidpairt  chuirp 
cm/  7  afola  inafiadwa/^.  ,  Doroine  colum  cille  umaloit  doib  imme 
sin.  owidannsin  atw«nairc  caindech  columa  tentide1  oscind  coluim 
cille  ceinboi  uwzedpairt.  Roindis  caindech  dochomgall  sin.  7  iiconn- 
catar  diblinaib  \2xum  incolamain. 

1  Ms.  tentige. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columba.  113 

There  was  a  great  oak  under  which  Colombcille  rested,  while 
he  abode  in  that  place.  This  oak  lived  for  a  very  many  ages, 
until  it  fell  through  the  crash  of  a  mighty  wind ;  and  a  certain  man 
took  somewhat  of  its  bark  to  tan  his  shoes  withal.  Now  when 
he  did  on  his  shoes  after  they  had  been  tanned,  leprosy  clave  to 
him  from  sole  to  crown. 

Colombcille  then  went  to  Aed  Slane,  and  made  prophecy 
for  him,  and  said  that  he  would  be  long-lived,  unless  he  were  parri 
cidal.  If,  however,  he  should  commit  parricide  he  was  to  live  but 
four  years  after.  So  Colombcille  hallowed  a  cowl  for  him  and  said 
that  he  would  not  be  wounded  while  that  cowl  was  on  him.  How- 
beit,  Aed  Slane  wrought  parricide,  against  the  word  of  Colombcille, 
on  Suibne  son  of  Colman.  At  the  end  of  four  years  after,  he 
went  upon  a  foray:  he  forgot  his  cowl:  he  is  killed  on  that  day. 

Thereafter  Colombcille  founded  many  churches  in  Bregia. 
He  left  two  elders  and  many  relics  therein.  He  left  Ossene  son 
of  Cellach  in  Clonmore.1  He  went  thereafter  to  Manister-Boiti.2 
It  was  there  that  his  staff  touched  the  ladder  of  glass,  whereby  Bdite 
had  ascended  to  heaven,  so  that  its  sound  was  heard  throughout 
the  whole  church,  and  he  shewed  Boite's  grave,  and  he  marked 
out  his  church,  as  B(5ite  himself  had  foretold  on  the  day  of  his 
death.  For  many  were  the  churches  he  marked  out  and  the  books 
he  wrote,  to  wit,  three  hundred  cells  and  three  hundred  books ;  as 
said  the  poet — 

He  marked   out,   without   loosening,  three   hundred   fair 

churches,  it  is  true; 
And  three  hundred  gifted,  lasting  (?),  bright,  noble  books 

he  wrote. 

Though  any  book  that  his  hand  would  write  were  ever  so  long 
under  water,  not  a  single  letter  therein  would  be  drowned. 

He  founded  a  church  in  Rachra*  in  the  east  of  Bregia,  and  left 
deacon  Colman  therein.  Once  on  a  time  that  they  were  in  that 
church,  namely,  Colombcille  and  Comgall  and  Cainnech,  Comgall 
said  that  Colombcille  should  make  an  offering  of  Christ's  Body 
and  His  Blood  in  their  presence.  Colombcille  did  service  for 
them  as  to  that.  Then  it  was  that  Cainnech  beheld  a  pillar  of 
fire  over  Colombcille's  head  while  at  the  offertory.  Cainnech  told 
that  to  Comgall,  and  then  they  both  beheld  the  pillar. 

1  '  A  parish  in  the  diocese  of  Armagh,'  situate  in  the  county   of  Louth   and 
barony  of  Ferrard  [=  Fir  Arda],  Reeves,  Columba,  281. 
*  now  Monasterboice,  in  the  county  of  Louth. 
3  Now  Lambay,  Adamnan's  Rechrca  insula. 


1 14         Bet  ha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  p. 


Fothaigis  edais  isininad  hita  sord  indiii.  Facbais  fer  smith 
diam««tir  and  .i.  finan  lobur.  7  facbais  insos«7a  roscrib  alawz 
fodessin.  Toirnis  Ira  aim  tipra  dianainm  sord1  .i.  glan.  7  senais 
crass,  vair  babe's  dosum  crossa  7  polaire  7  tiaga  lebor  7  aidme 
eclastacda  dode'num.  ut  dixit. 

Senais  tii  cet  crossa.  buadach* 

tri  cet  tiprat  doba  dian 

cet  polaire  an  anathach 

la  cet  bachall  la  cet  tiag. 

La  noen  boi  colum  cille  7  coindech  fbmr  inmara.  Boi  anfud 
mor  forsindfhairgi.  Albert  caindech  cid  chanwj  intond.  Asbert 
colum  cilfe  do  m#«tersiu  bdi  ingabud  anallana  f<?rsindfairgi  conepilt 
oen  dib.  7  dosb^ra  incoimdiu  chucainde  isinmatainse  imbaruch 
cwjinpurtsa  hitaum. 

Fechtus  dobrigit  ocimdecht  churrig  liffe.  7  otwwnaire  innog 
inmag  nalaind  scothsemrach  inafiadnawe.  is^  atb^rtsi  inam^main 
diamad  lee  comus  inmuigi  <w/idb<rad  don  choimdid  nandula. 
Foillsigth^r  sin  tra  do  colum  cille  7  se  inarecles  isurd.  conepert 
oguth  mor.  ismaith3  inatarla  donnoeboig.  arisinand  di  onchoimdid 
7  combad  lee  fein  dodiles  inferund  roidpair. 


[p.  33*].  Luid  iarsin  colaignib  conwrfacaib  cella  immdai 
iarnaf(o)thugud  leo  imdrum  monach  7  immoen.  7  imaroli  cella 
imdai  aile. 

Luid  iarsin  colum  cille  dochluain  m0cn6is  cwjinymmund 
dorfgne  dochiaran  leis.  vair  dorfgnesium  molta  immdai  domwwtir 
de.  ut  dixit. 

Soer  .111.  uasail*  ndcach  apsto/  (?)  itlfn  ferta  fe*r 

araill  trialatin  d6ba  soebail.  araill  triagoedilg  cain  inscel. 

ISacluain  tra  dol(lu)id  inmac  bee  ad6chummsom  cotall  bro- 
dirne  bee  dia^tach  cenairiugw*/  do.  Rofollsig  tra  dia  dos«0z 
anisin.  dorarngert  don  mac  combadsui  7  comba.  cr^zibdech.  isesin 

1  Facs.  soid.  3  Here  in  MS.  noidpred  '  offerebat.' 

3  Facs.  isaith.  *  Read  uasliu  ? 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  115 

He  founded  a  church  in  the  stead  Where  Swords1  is  at  this 
day.     He  left  an  ancient  man  of  his  people  there,  namely,  Finan 
Lobur,2   and    he    left  the    gospel  which  his    own    hand    wrote. 
There,  too,  he  marked  out  a  well  named  Sord,  that  is,  pure,  and 
sained  a  cross ;  for  it  was  his  wont  to  make  crosses  and  satchels 
and  wallets  for  books  and  all  church  gear ;  ut  dixit  \_poetd] — 
"  He  sained  three  hundred  victorious  crosses, 
Three  hundred  wellsprings  that  were  swift, 

An  hundred  booksatchels , 

With  an  hundred  croziers,  with  an  hundred  wallets." 
One  day  Colombcille  and  Cainnech  were  biding  on  the  brink 
of  the  sea,  when  a  great  tempest  was  on  the  main.  Said  Cainnech, 
"What  singeth  the  wave?"  Said  Colombcille:  "Thy  household 
were  in  peril  yonder  on  the  sea,  and  one  of  them  hath  perished, 
and  the  Lord  will  bring  them  unto  us  to-morrow  morning  to  this 
bank  whereon  we  are." 

Brigit  was  one  time  wending  through  the  Currach  of  Liffe, 
and  when  the  virgin  saw  the  delightful  shamrock-flowering  plain 
before  her,  she  said  in  her  mind  that  if  she  had  power  over  the 
plain,  she  would  offer  it  to  the  Lord  of  the  Elements.  That  is 
manifested  unto  Colombcille  in  his  cell  at  Swords,  whereupon  he 
said  with  a  loud  voice  :  "  Well  is  what  hath  happened  to  the  holy 
Virgin !  for  it  is  the  same  to  her  with  the  Lord  as  if  the  land  she 
hath  offered  were  her  own  of  right." 

Thereafter  he  fared  to  the  Leinstermen  and  left  many  churches 
which  he  founded  with  them,  together  with  Druim  Monach  and 
with  Moen3  and  with  other  churches  in  plenty. 

Thereafter  Colombcille  fared  to  Clonmacnois,  with  the  hymn 
which  he  had  made  for  Ciaran :  for  he  made  many  praises  for 
God's  household,  ut  dixit  [poeta] — 

Noble   thrice   fifty, the   number  of 

miracles  are  the  grass-blades, 
Some  in  Latin  which  was  eloquent  (?),  others  in  Gaelic, 

fair  the  tale. 

Now,  it  was  in  Clonmacnois  that  the  little  boy  came  unto  him 
and  stole  a  small  shred  from  his  raiment  without  being  perceived 
by  him.  Howbeit,  God  manifested  that  matter  to  him.  He  pro- 

1  About  seven  miles  north  of  Dublin. 

2  'Finan   laindrech    lobur,'  Felire,    March  16,  'of  the  race  of  Tadg,  son  of 
Cian,'  Reeves'  Columla,  279. 

3  Now  Moone  in  Kildare,  in  the  barony  of  Kilkea  and  Moone. 


n6         Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  33a. 

ernan  cluana  deochra1  indm. 

Luid  colum  cille  iarsin  icn'cha  cotmacht  forcuairt  apr<?cepta. 
crofothaz^-  cella  7  ovzgbala  immda  isincdicedsin  imess  mzc  eircc  ocus 
imdruimm  cliab. 

Facbais  mothoria  indruimm  cliab  7  facbais  occa  bachaill 
dorigne  fessin. 

Luid  colum  cille  \zrum  daress  ruatd  7  fothaigis  cella  hile 
Iar0#all  7  eogaw.8  fothat'gis  toraig  7  facbais  fer  smith  diamwwtir 
innti  .i.  ernaine. 

ORola  din  colum  cille  cuairt  n&renn  uli.  7  oroshilwjtar  ires  ocus 
cretem.  orobaits^/  lesium  sloig  immdai.  orofothaz^  cella  7  rowgbala. 
orofacaib  sruthi  7  minda  7  martire  intib.  tanic  tra  foramramain 
ancinded  rochind  othds  abethad  .i.  tidecht  inoilithr*.  Roimraid 
iarww  dula  darmuir  do3  precept  brethri  de  dalbanchuib  7  dobretnaib 
7  saxaib. 


Teit  tra  forfecht  .xlii.  aaeis  intan  dochuaid  .xxxiiii.  do  inal- 
bain  .Ixxuii.  mblia^zw  aaes  chomlan.  7  bahe  immurro  lin  docuaid 
.i.  xx.  epscop.  xl.  sacart  .xxx.  deochaine  .1.  mac  legind.  ut  dixit. 


sacart  aim 
ttche  epscop  uasal  brfg 
fr/sinsalmcetul  cznachl 
tricha  deocham.  coeca  mac. 

Luid  isirum  fosom^wmain  coroacht  ininud  dianad  ainm  hfi 
colui'm  cille  indiu.  Adaig  chengcisi  tra  rosiacht.  Tancutar  di 
epscop  b&ar  isintir  dogabail  alama  ass.  rofollsig  tra  dia  do  colum 
cille  naptar  epsc«#  iarfir.  «widaire  sin  forfacsat  aninnsi  lais  oroin- 
dis  form  atuirtechta  7  atindrium  hdiles. 


in  Meath.  2  ».  e.,  in  Tirconnell  and  Tyrone,  3  Facs.  to. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  117 

phesied  for  the  boy  that  he  would  be  a  sage  and  pious.  He  is 
Ernan  of  Cluain  Deochra  at  this  day. 

Thereafter  Colombcille  fared  into  the  borders  of  Connaught 
on  his  preaching  round,  and  he  founded  many  churches  and  holy 
dwellings  in  that  province,  together  with  Ess  mic  Eire1  and  Druim 
Cliab.3 

He  left  Mothoria  in  Druimcliab  and  left  with  him  a  crozier 
which  himself  had  made. 

Colombcille  then  fared  over  Assaroe  and  founded  many 
churches  with  Conall  and  Eogan.  He  founded  Torach3  and  left 
an  elder  of  his  household  therein,  to  wit,  Ernaine. 

Now  when  Colombcille  had  made  a  round  of  all  Ireland,  and 
when  he  had  sown  faith  and  belief,  and  when  numerous  hosts  had 
been  baptized  by  him,  and  when  he  had  founded  churches  and 
holy  dwellings,  when  he  had  left  elders  and  reliquaries  and  relics 
therein,  the  determination  which  he  had  resolved  on  from  the 
beginning  of  his  life  came  to  his  mind,  namely,  to  go  into  pil 
grimage.  He  then  was  minded  to  go  over  sea  to  preach  God's 
word  to  Highlanders  and  to  Britons  and  Saxons. 

So  he  fared  forth  on  the  expedition.  Forty-two  years  was  his 
age  when  he  went.  Thirty-four  he  lived  in  Scotland.  Seventy- 
seven  was  his  full  age.  And  the  number  that  went  (with  him)  was 
twenty  bishops,  forty  priests,  thirty  deacons,  fifty  students ;  utdixit — 

Forty  priests  was  their  number, 

Twenty  bishops,  a  noble  strength ! 

For  the  psalmody  without  neglect. 

Thirty  deacons,  fifty  boys. 

He  fared  then  in  happy  mood  till  he  came  to  the  stead  which 
to-day  is  named  Hii  of  Colombcille.  On  the  night  of  Pentecost 
he  reached  it.  Two  bishops  who  were  biding  in  the  island  came 
to  cast  him  out  of  it.  But  God  revealed  to  Colombcille  that  in 
truth  they  were  not  bishops,  whereupon  they  left  the  island  to  him 
when  he  told  of  them  their  story  and  what  they  ought  to  perform.4 

1  Now  Assylyn  [=  ess  ui  Fhloinn],  a  spot  on  the  river  Boyle,  about  a  mile 
west   of  the  town.     The  '  son   of  Ere'  was   Dachonna   or    Mochonna,    Reeves' 
Columba,  281. 

2  Now  Drumcliff,  a  little  to  the  north  of  Sligo,  Reeves,  Columla,  279. 

3  Now  Tory  island,  off  the  north  coast   of  Donegal,   called   torach  '  towery' 
from  the  tors  or  pinnacles  of  rock  by  which  the  island   is   characterized,    Reeves' 
Columla,  279. 

4  lit.  '  their  proper  accomplishing.' 


n8         Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lelar  Brecc,  p.  33*. 


Atb<?rt  colum  cille  indsin  ramwwtir  ismaith  diin  arfre'nia  dodul 
siind.  7  albert,  frra.  iscet  dib  nech  6cm  uaib  dodul  fotfir 
nahinnsise  diacoisecrad.  Atracht  suas  odran  erlattad.  7  is<?^  atb^rt. 
Dianamgabtha  olse  iserlom  lem  sin.  Addrain  ol  colum  cille  rotbia 
aldg  sin  .i.  nitiberthar  aitghe  doneoch  icomligese  mina  fortsa 
shirfes  artwj.  Luid  iarum  odran  docum  nime. 


Fothaigisium  eclats  hi'ia  izrum.  tri  .1.  riteoir  immanchaine 
acasom  innti.  7  Ix.  fri  hactail.  ut  dixit. 

Amra  6cbad  boi  inhfi 

/n  coecait  immanchunii 

immacurchaib  iarsinler 

ocimram  irifichit  fer. 

Oroihoth^?^  C^///OT  cz'//<?  hii  luid  forcuairt  aprocepta  foaIb<z/« 
7  bretnu  7  saxanchu.  f<?«wjtuc  docum  nirsi  7  cretmi  iarfertaib  ilib 
dod^num  do.  iartodw^cad  marb  abas. 

B6i  ira  isintir  aroli  duine  diaropn'tcastar  colum  cille  coro- 
chreit  conzmuntir  uli  donchoimdid.  Baformat  lademun  innisin. 
corobens^/e  mac  induine  ut  ogakr  thromm.  conepil  de.  Bator 
i&ium  nagentlide  oc^cnach  crist  7  coluim  cille  condernzsum  ernaigti 
ndichra  codia  corothddhuisc  inmac  marb  abas. 


Diambdi  ira  colum  cille  inaroli  lathi  icpr^cept  donaslogaib. 
luid  aroli  duine  uadib  darsinabaind  b(5i  icomfocwj  doib.  nabeth 
ocestecht  tri  br^ir  hd^.  notmb^wand  innathir  he  isinusa  COTUS- 
marb  foc^e/oir.  Tuccad  achorp  ifiadn0«-e  coluim  cille.  7  dos- 
betrsede  croiss  diabachaill  darabruinde  conteracht  foc/5e/oir. 

Gakr  tromm  tanic  da  thimthiridsium.  diarmait  aainmm  f^wepil. 
condemzsum  ernaigti  leis  7  corotddw^cad  abas  he.  7  ni  nama  acht 
rochuindigsium  sa3gul  secht  mblia<^«  do  dia6is  bud^in. 


Tan  and   tanic   caindech   uadsom  ahff.    D^rmatis  abachall 
tair.  intan  doriacht  ille  fvair  abachall  forachind  ifus  7  lene  coluim 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Columla.  119 

Then  said  Colombcille  to  his  household,  "  It  is  well  for  us 
that  our  roots  should  go  under  earth  here;"  and  he  said  to 
them,  "  It  is  permitted  to  you  that  some  one  of  you  go  under  the 
mould  of  this  island  to  consecrate  it."  Odran  rose  up  readily,  and 
this  he  said :  "  If  thou  wouldst  accept  me,"  saith  he,  "  I  am  ready 
for  that."  "  O  Odran,"  saith  Colombcille,  "  thereof  shall  thou  have 
the  reward,  namely,  to  none  shall  his  request  be  granted  at  my 
grave,  unless  he  shall  seek  it  first  of  thee."  Odran  then  fared  to 
heaven. 

Colomb  then  founded  the  church  of  Hii.  Thrice  fifty  monks 
had  he  therein  for  meditation  and  sixty  for  active  life,  as  said 
(the  poet)— 

Wondrous  the  warriors  who  abode  in  Hii, 
Thrice  fifty  in  monastic  rule, 
With  their  boats  along  the  sea, 
Three  score  men  a-rowing. 

When  Colombcille  had  founded  Hii,  he  fared  on  his  preach 
ing  round  throughout  Scotland  and  Britons  and  Saxons ;  and  he 
brought  them  to  faith  and  belief  after  many  miracles  had  been 
wrought  by  him,  after  bringing  the  dead  to  life  out  of  death. 

Now  there  was  biding  in  the  country  a  certain  man  to  whom 
Colombcille  had  preached,  and  he,  with  all  his  household,  believed 
in  the  Lord.  The  devil  was  envious  of  that  thing,  so  he  smote 
the  son  of  this  man  with  a  sore  disease,  whereof  he  died.  Then 
the  heathen  were  reviling  Christ  and  Colombcille,  whereupon 
he  made  fervent  prayer  to  God,  and  awoke  the  dead  son  out 
of  death. 

As  Colombcille  was  on  a  certain  day  preaching  to  the  hosts, 
a  certain  man  fared  from  them  over  the  river  which  was  near 
them,  so  that  he  should  not  be  listening  to  the  word  of  God.  The 
snake  strikes  him  in  the  water  and  killed  him  forthwith.  His 
body  was  brought  into  Colombcille's  presence,  and  he  makes  a 
cross  with  his  crozier  over  his  (the  dead  man's)  breast,  whereupon 
he  at  once  arose. 

A  sore  disease  came  to  his  servant  (Diarmait  was  his  name), 
and  he  died ;  and  Colombcille  made  prayer  for  him,  and  awoke 
him  out  of  death ;  and  not  that  alone,  but  he  asked  for  a  life  of 
seven  years  for  Diarmait  after  himself. 

On  a  time  Cainnech  came  away  from  him  out  of  Hii.  He 
forgot  his  crozier  in  the  east.  When  he  had  reached  hither,1  he 

1  i.  e.,  Ireland. 


ISO    Betha  Choluim  Chille,  Lebar  Brecc,  pp.  33*,  33b. 


cilk  imalle  fr/'a  .i.  cuit  chaindig  sin  diarechullsom.  7  isaire  dorfg- 
nesium  sin.  uair  rofitzr  comba  fochraib  diaetsecht. 


Laisse  mor  tanic  dosum  fechtwj  inhii.  fiarfor^/  desium  fath 
nalaissi.  Tene  [p.  33b]  de  donim  olesium  tanic  innossa  forteora 
cat^racha  isinetail  corosmarb  iri  mile  fer  cen  mota  mna  7  mate 
7  ingena. 

Gairm  rochualasww  tan  aile  ipurt  hffa.  annsin  atfortsom. 

Bachlach  fil  isinpurt  <w/abachaill  inachrub 
toadlibi  madircin  7  doirtfe  modub. 
Toirnfidsium  sis  dindsaigid  mopax 
isb^wfaid  fn'madaircm  nosfaiceba  fas. 

Feet  naill  do  colunt  cille  forfacaib  boithfn  he  icfuni  mairt 
donmethil.  Boi  athlaech  dferaib  erenn  accu  .i.  moeluma  mac 
boetdin  esium.  Roiarfaig1  colum  cille  de  ciamet  aloingthi  intan 
ba  hoclaech.  Atb^rt  moeluma.  nochaithind  mart  meth  imsaith 
intan  ropsam  oclach.  forcongair  colum  cille  fairsium  corostofmled 
ashaith.  Daroine  moeluma  airsium  sin  owduaid2  inmart  uli. 
Tanic  boithin  iarsin  coriarfaig  inbaherlam  inessair.  Rofbrcongair 
ira  colum  cille  formoeluma  uli  chnama  inmairt  dothinol  inoenbaile. 
7  daronad  zmlaid.  'Bennzchat's  column  cille  izxum  nacnamu.  7  b(5i 
afheoil  fen  impu  iarsin  corructha  donmethil. 


Laa  noen  do  colum  cilk  immi's  mai.  teit  dofissce'l  nanairemun 
itilaiscert  nahmdsi.  Boi  cacomdidnad  7  caforc^/ul.  maith  ira  olse 
foncaisc  dochuaid  immfs  apml  isannsin  ropail  damsa  techt  ddcumm 
nime.  acht  nirbail  dam  brdn  natorsi  dibse  iarbarsaethar  <wzidairesin 
roanwj  ocaibsi  dabarcomdidnad  ochaisc  cocengcidis. 


Orachualator  namanaig    nabriaMmsa    ropter  torsig  comor. 
Roshai  ira  iarsin  aagad  siar  corob^nach  [  ]  nahindsi 

wwahaittr^thaib.  7  rosindarb  loscaind  7  nat^racha  esti. 

Orob^wnach  ira  anindsi  tanic  izrum  darecles.  7  nician  iarsin 
tancatar  cr?cha  nasab6ti  7  tossach  indomnaig.  7  orothocaib  insin 

1  MS.  Roiarfaid.  8  dot  over  first  d. 


On  the  Life  of  St.   Columla.  121 


found  his  crozier  before  him  here,  and  a  shirt  of  Colombcille's 
along  with  it,  to  wit,  Cainnech's  quota  for  his  windingsheet ; 
and  Colombcille  did  that  because  he  knew  that  Cainnech  was 
near  unto  his  death. 

A  great  flash  came  to  him  once  in  Hii.  They  asked  him 
the  cause  of  the  flash.  "  The  fire  of  God  from  heaven,"  saith  he, 
"  hath  even  now  come  on  three  cities  in  Italy,  and  hath  killed 
three  thousand  men,  besides  women  and  boys  and  girls." 

At  another  time  he  heard  a  call  in  the  port  of  Hii.  Then 
he  said— 

"  A  shepherd  is  in  the  port  with  his  crook  in  his  claw. 
He  will  come  to  my  little  horn  and  spill  my  ink. 
He  will  stoop  down  to  my  pax, 

And   will   knock   against   my  little   horn,   will   leave  it 
empty. 

As  to  Colombcille  at  another  time,  Boethin  left  him  cooking 
a  cow  for  the  reapers.  They  'had  an  old  whilom-hero  of  the 
men  of  Ireland,  Maeluma  son  of  Boethin  was  he.  Colombcille 
asked  him,  how  much  was  his  meal  when  he  was  a  young  warrior  ? 
Said  Maeluma,  "  When  I  was  a  young  warrior  I  used  to  eat  a 
fat  cow  to  my  full  meal."  Colombcille  commanded  him  to  eat 
his  fill.  Maeluma  did  that  for  him,  and  ate  the  whole  cow. 
Thereafter  Boethin  came  and  asked  if  what  should  be  eaten  were 
ready.  So  Colombcille  ordered  Maeluma  to  gather  all  the  bones 
of  the  cow  into  one  place,  and  so  it  was  done.  Colombcille  then 
blessed  the  bones,  and  their  own  flesh  was  upon  them  after  that, 
and  they  were  given  to  the  reapers. 

One  day  in  the  month  of  May,  Colombcille  went  to  see 
the  plowmen  in  the  north  of  the  island.  He  was  comfort 
ing  and  teaching  them.  "  Well  now,"  saith  he,  "  at  the  Easter 
that  went  into  the  month  of  April,  then  was  I  fain  to  have  gone 
to  heaven,  but  I  did  not  wish  you  to  have  grief  or  sorrow  after 
your  toil,  wherefore  I  have  staid  with  you  to  comfort  you  from 
Easter  to  Pentecost." 

When  the  monks  heard  these  words  they  were  sorrowful 
exceedingly.  He  then  turned  his  face  westwards,  and  blessed  the 
....  of  the  island  with  its  indwellers,  and  banished  toads  and 
snakes  out  of  it. 

When  he  had  blessed  the  island  he  then  came  to  his  cell 
and  not  long  after  came  the  ends  of  the  sabbath  and  the  begin- 


122         Belha   Cholirim   Chille,   Leiar  Brccr,  p.  33*. 


a  anardi  tanic  laisse  mor  dagniiis   7  diaagaid.   7  itcwmcatar 
nabrait/;/-/  sin.  aingel  d£  din.  tarrasar  osachind  annsin. 


Luid  iarsin  dob<?«nach^  intshabaill.  7  atb<?rt  fmfoss  .i.  diar- 
mait  condescomlaifed  adaig  ddmnaig  dociim  nime.  Rosuid  iarsin 
insenoir  oirmitnech  .i.  colum  cille  tor  ur  nawwaire  uair  tanic  sci's 
d6  ciarbogar  auide  .i.  Ixx  .uii.  mbliadan  aaes  ininbuidsin.  Doluid 
annsin  adochum  ingerran  nobid  ocnamanch<zz#  isindinis  7  cii'd 
inucht  inclerig  corofliuch  aetach.  Rotr?'all  infos  .i.  diarmait  indarp- 
ud  ingerrain  vad.  Leic  do  adiarmait  cAcolum  cille  condernz 
adoethin  der  7  toirse  iconic hoinedsa. 


ISlia  ira  tuirem  7  ais;/^  andorigne  dia  dofertaib  7  mirbuli 
isnatalm<7«taib  for  colum  cille.  arnifil  nech  conicfe  at«rim  coleir. 
acht  mine  tiss<f</  aaingel  fen  no  aingel  de  nime  dianaisw<?j.  ^widlor 
dun  so  dothabrt/rt  dib  fordesmbfrecht. 

Nirogenir  tra  dogoedelu  gein  buduaisle  naba  ecnaide  nabad 
shocenelchiu  oltas  colum  cilk.  Nitanic  dib  aroli  bud  becda  nabud- 
umla  nabud  inisle.  Mor  tra  aninisle  do  colum  cille  conid  he  fen 
nobenad  aniallac^nrnda  diamanchfl$  7  noinnlad  doib.  he  nobbed 
com#»icc  acuit  arbai  foramuin  donmuilend  7  nomeled  7  nos- 
b«'ed  lais  diathig.  he  nfsgebed  lin  naoland  fr/achness.  he  nacotlad 
nococomraiced  athoeb  frihiiir  noicht.  isfochind  nabid  acht  corthi 
clochi  do[f]rithadurt  7  nidhenad  dochotlad  \tir  acht  oiret  nobid 
diarmait  adalta  icgabail  tr/'caibtel  donbiait.  Atraiged  sitas  iarsin 
7  dognid  gol  7  bascaire  ama/  m&thair  baid  occained  ahenmi/c. 
Nogebed  na  .111.  iarsin  comatain  ingainem  natragai.  ut  dixit. 


Na  tri  coicait  tromm  intaire  isinoidche  bamor  pian 
isinliur  f/r/toeb  albaw  risiu  doarcbad  ingmn. 
Gle  fr/sleged  uaisliu  saethu  isingainem  bamorsieth 
slicht  aasna  t/v'anetach  bareill  wwidseted  gaeth. 


On  the  Life  nf  St.  Cohnnla. 


ning  of  the  Sunday.  And  when  he  raised  his  eyes  on  high  there 
came  a  great  glow  to  his  countenance  and  to  his  face,  and  the 
brethren  beheld  that.  An  angel  of  God,  moreover,  tarried  above 
him  then. 

Thereafter  he  went  to  bless  the  barn,  and  he  said  to  his 
servant  Diarmait  that  on  Sunday  night  he  would  depart  unto 
heaven.  After  that  the  venerable  old  man,  Colombcille,  sat  down  on 
the  edge  of  the  path,  for  weariness  had  come  to  him,  though  his 
wayfaring  had  been  but  short;  seventy-seven  years  was  his  age  at  that 
time.  Then  came  unto  him  the  nag  which  the  monks  had  in 
the  island,  and  weeps  in  the  breast  of  the  cleric,  so  that  his  rai 
ment  became  wet.  The  servant,  Diarmait,  sought  to  drive  the 
nag  away  from  him.  "  Let  him  be,  O  Diarmait,"  saith  Colomb 
cille,  "  until  he  sufficeth  himself  with  tears  and  sorrow  in  lamenting 
me." 

Overmany  to  recount  and  declare  are  the  marvels  and  mira 
cles  which  God  wrought  on  earth  for  Colombcille ;  for  there  is 
no  one  who  could  recount  them  fully  unless  his  own  angel  or 
an  angel  of  God  of  heaven  came  to  declare  them  ;  but  we  think 
these  enough  of  them  to  give  for  a  sample. 

Now  there  never  was  born  to  the  Gael  offspring  nobler,  not 
wiser,  nor  of  better  kin,  than  Colombcille.  There  hath  not  come  of 
them  another  who  was  more  retiring  (?),  or  humbler,  or  lowlier. 
Surely  it  was  great  lowliness  in  Colombcille  that  he  himself  used  to 
take  off  his  monks'  sandals  and  wash  their  feet  for  them.  He  it  was 
that  often  carried  his  quota  of  corn  on  his  back  to  the  mill,  and 
ground  and  brought  it  home  to  his  house.  He  it  was  that  never 
put  flax  nor  wool  against  his  skin.  He  it  was  that  slept  not  until 
his  side  came  against  the  bare  mould  :  nought  was  under  his 
head  save  a  pillar-stone  for  a  bolster.  And  he  slept  only  so  long 
as  Diarmait  his  fosterling  used  to  be  chanting  three  chapters  of 
the  Beatus.  He  wrould  rise  up  after  that,  and  would  cry  and 
beat  his  hands  together  like  a  loving  mother  lamenting  her  only 
son.  He  would  chant  the  thrice  fifty  (psalms)  after  that,  till  morning 
in  the  sand  of  the  strand,  ut  dixit  \_poeta]  — 

The  three  fifties — sore  the  watching —in  the  night — great 

was  the  pain. 
In  the  sea  beside  Scotland  before  the  sun  had  risen, 

Clear in  the  sand,  it  was  great  labour, 

The  trace  of  his  ribs  through  his   raiment  was  manifest 
when  the  wind  blew. 


124  Bet  ha  Choluim  Chille,  Letar  Brecc,  pp.  $f — 34". 


Amonar  afdche  insin.  isinlo  immurro  izrum  noathaig^/  natra- 
tha:  nohidprad  corp  cm/  7  afuil.  Twpn'tchad  sosceh.  nobaits<?</.  no 
coisecrad.  #<?cosmad.  «<?iccad  clamu  7  dalla  7  bacachu  7  ges  cedza 
tedmma  archena.  noduisced  marbu. 


[p.  34a].  Othanic  tra  czmiadedenchu  do  colum  cille  7  oroben- 
ad  clocc  iairmergi  aidche  domnaig  chengcedais.  luidsium  ria  each 
ddcumm  naheck.fi.  7  dorfgne  slechtain  7  ernaigthi  ndfchra  kwzaltoir. 
rdlin  intansin  sollsi  aingelta  indeckz'-y  imme  dace^leth.  7  rofhdid 
indsin  insruith  airmitnech  aspzVut  dochumm  nime.  isuba  7  ifailte 
mwwtire  nime  cucoitchend. 

Ata  immurro  achorp  italmam  hifus  conznoir  7  oirmitin  odia 
7  Jainib.  cofertaib  7  mirbulib  cer^lathidib.  7  cidmor  aanoir  col- 
l^icc.  bidmo  indail  bratha.  intan  taitnigfes  am#/  grein  nemthrual- 
nide  [....]  achuirp  7  aanma. 


(Isann)  tra  bess  inmorgloirsin  7  ininocbail  dosum.  inoentaid 
noi  ngrad  nime  natairmdechatar.  moentatd  aps/«/  7  descipw/  isu 
cm/,  inoent^zi/  deachta  7  doen«<r^/a  m^'c  d^.  isinoente/i/  isuaisli 

oentazi/  inoentoi/  nanoemtrindti  uaisle  oirmitnige  uilecum- 

igi.  athazr  7  mac  7  spirw/  n^/«. 


Mlimm  trocaire  nd^  ulicumac^/aig  tnaimpide  noem  colm'm 
cille.  consam  uli  moentez#  sin.  Tosamllem  vos&itrebam  in  saecula. 
Amen. 


On  the  Life  of  St.  Col  inn  ba. 


That  was  his  nightwork.  In  the  daytime  he  attended  to  the 
canonical  hours :  he  offered  Christ's  Body  and  his  Blood :  he 
preached  the  gospel :  he  baptized :  he  consecrated :  he  anoint 
ed  ;  he  healed  lepers  and  the  blind  and  lame  and  folk  of  every 
disease  besides :  he  raised  the  dead  to  life. 

Now  when  Colombcille  drew  nigh  to  his  ending  days,  and 
when  the  bell  for  nocturn  was  struck  on  the  night  of  Pentecost 
Sunday,  he  fared  before  the  rest  to  the  church,  and  knelt  and 
made  fervent  prayer  at  the  altar.  At  that  moment  an  angelic 
radiance  filled  the  church  around  him  from  every  side,  and  then  the 
venerable  elder  sent  forth  his  spirit  to  heaven  in  delight  and  in 
j  oyance  of  heaven's  household  altogether. 

His  body  is  here  on  earth  in  honour  and  veneration  from 
God  and  menfolk,  with  daily  marvels  and  miracles ;  and,  though 
great  is  his  honour  at  present,  greater  will  it  be  at  the  Assembly 
of  Doom,  when  like  an  unsullied  sun  shall  shine  the  ....  of 
his  body  and  his  soul. 

There  shall  he  have  that  great  glory  and  elevation  :  in  union 
with  nine  orders  of  heaven  that  have  not  transgressed ;  in  union 
with  apostles  and  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ;  in  union  with  the 
Godhead  and  Manhood  of  God's  Son;  in  union  that  is  noblest 
of  all  unions,  union  with  the  Holy  Trinity,  noble,  venerable,  al 
mighty,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost. 

I  implore  the  mercy  of  Almighty  God,  through  holy  Colomb- 
cille's  intercession,  that  we  may  all  reach  that  union,  that  we 
may  deserve  it,  that  we  may  dwell  therein,  in  sacida  sceculorum. 
Amen ! 


INDEXES. 


I.— N  AMES    OF     PERSONS. 


Abram,  90,  92. 

Aed  mac  Ainmirech,  106. 

Aed  mac  Brenainn,  108. 

Aed  Slaine,  30,  110,  112. 

Ailill  mac  Dunlaing,  76,  78. 

Ainmire,  106. 

Annton  Manach,  92. 

Artair  (?)  mac  Artchuirp,  52. 

Artchorp  mac  Coirpri  Niad,  52. 

Becc  mac  Dead,  110. 

Beccan,  64. 

Benen,  20,  24,  26. 

Boetan,  120. 

Boethchu,  58. 

Boite  mac  Brouaig,  100,  112. 

Boithin,  120. 

Brechtnat  Blaithbec,  52. 

Brenand,  108.     Brenainn,  82. 

Bresal,  52. 

Brigit,  40,  56,  98,  114. 

Brigit  ingen  Congaile,  72. 

Brittus,  4. 

Broiccsech,  52. 

Bron,  68. 

Bronach,  gen.  Bronaig,  100. 

Cainnech,  106,  112,  114,  118. 

Calprund,  4. 

Carbaic,  38. 

Celestinus,  10,  14. 

Cellach,  112. 

Cellachan,  102. 

Cerball,  gen.  Cerbaill,  110. 

Ciaran  mac  int-sair,  104,  114. 


Cillme,  30. 

Cirine  =  Hieronymus,  2. 

Coirpre  Nia,  52 

Coirpre  mac  Neill,  28  =  Carpre    ni. 

N.,  38. 

Colman,  30.     Colman  Mor,  110. 
Colman  deochain,  112. 
Colomb  Cille,  28,  40. 
Comgall  Bennchuir,  28,  106,  112. 
Conall   Gulban  mac  N«?ill,   28,    38 

40,  98,  100. 
Conchess,  4. 
Congaile,  72. 
Conla  mac  Artrach,  52. 
Cormac  ua  Liathain,  110. 
Cormac  mac  Oengusa,  52. 
Cothraige,  10. 
Cremthann,  78. 
Crist,  36. 

Cruithnechan,  102. 
Crunnmael,  24. 
Cuangus,  38. 

Dabid  mac  lese,  42. 

Dallbronach,  52. 

Dare,  34. 

Darerca,  4. 

De,  gen.  Dead,  110. 

Deg,  22. 

Den  mac  Conla,  52. 

Demre,  52. 

Diarmait,  118,  gen.  Diarmata,  110. 

Dfchu,  18,  20. 

Dimma  Mac  Noe,  102. 

Domangort,  38. 


128 


Index  of  Names  of  Persons. 


Drichu,  30. 

Dubthach  Maccu-Lugair,  24. 
Dubthach  mac  Demri,  52,  70. 
Dunlaing,  78,  mac  Enda,  64,  70. 

Echaid  Find  Fuathnart,  52. 

Ecbaid  Lamderg,  14. 

Ecretus,  4. 

Enda,  64,     Ennae  Cennselacb,  78. 

Eogan,  34. 

Eogan  Aird-Sratha,  100. 

Eogan  mac  N&ll,  40. 

Eoin  mac  Zepideii,  42,  =  lohain  m. 

Z.,  50. 
Ere,  116.    Ercc,  70, 106.    Ercc  mac 

Dega,  22. 
Eresus,  4. 
Ernaine,  116. 
Ernan,  116. 
Ethne,  40,  98,  100. 

Fedilmith,     96,     100.        Fedilmith 

Rechtaid,  52. 
Felestus,  4. 
Fergna,  108. 
Fergus,  40. 

Fergus  mac  Conaill  Gulban,  98. 
Ferinus,  4. 
Fiacc  gen.  Feicc,  20. 
Finan  Lobur,  114.  • 
Findchad,  34. 
Finden,  28. 
Finden  Maige  Bile,  104,  F.  Cluana 

Eraird,  104. 
Fothad,  14. 

Garban,  42. 

Garrchu,  14. 

Gemman,  104, 

Germanus,  10.     German,  14. 

Gornias,  4. 

Gorniuth,  4. 

Grafann,  110. 

Helii,  36. 
Hestras,  4. 

Ibair,  76. 
lese,  42, 
losue,  4. 
Isaias,  2. 


fsu,  16,  96. 

Lassair,  82. 

Laurent,  36. 

Leo,  4. 

Liamain,  4. 

Liathan,  110. 

Loairn,  20. 

Lochra,  18,  =  Lochru,  22. 

Loegaire,  16,  20,  22,  26,  28,  30. 

Lothracb,  18. 

Lomman,  70. 

Lubeniutb,  4. 

Lucbatmael,  18,  24. 

Lugaid  mac  Loegairi,  28. 

Lupait,  4,  8,  10. 

Mac-Caille,  66. 

Mac  Cuill,  42. 

Macritb,  98. 

Macc-Uais,  54. 

Magonius,  10. 

Maine,  28. 

Maithgen,  52. 

Mantais,  20. 

Marcan,  mac  Cillini,  30. 

Martin  of  Tours,  32,  108. 

Maxim,  4. 

Mel,  54,  66,  68,  72. 

Melchu,  54. 

Mercut,  4. 

Mesincorb,  14. 

Miliucc    Maccu-Buain,    10,   12,   16, 

18. 

Mobii,  106. 
Mo-choa,  20. 
Mochtai,  98. 

Moeluma  mac  Boetain,  120. 
Mothoria,  116. 
Moysi,  16,  36,  42. 
Muire  In  gen,  60. 
Muiredach  mac  Eogain,  40. 
Mnric,  4. 

Natfraech,  32. 

Nathi,  14. 

Nemias,  4. 

Neptalim,  2. 

Niall,    28,     40.      gen.    N&ll,    106. 

Niall  Noigiallach,  98,  100. 
Niallan,  34. 


Index  of  Local  Names. 


129 


Ninnid  Lam-idan,  76,  84. 

Oengus  mac  Natfraich,  32. 

Oengus  Menn,  52. 

Ochbas,  4. 

Odisse,  4. 

Odran,  118. 

Oricc,  4. 

Ossine  mac  Cellaig,  112. 

Otid,  4. 

Otta,  4, 

Palladius,  14. 

Patraic,  4,  98,  Patricius,  10. 

Petar,  14,  16,  36. 

Pol,  16,  36,  42,  gen.  Poil,  92. 

Renell,  18. 
Richell,  4. 

Sattan,  72. 


Sechnall,  38,  40. 

Sechtmad,  10. 

Signetlus  (Segetius  ?),  14. 

Solam  ace.  Solmuin,  42. 

Stepan,  36. 

Succet,  10,  12. 

Suibne  mac  Colmain,  112. 

Tara,  90. 
Tassach,  44. 
Tigris,  4,  10. 
Trechem,  18,  20,  44. 

Victor,  10,  34,  36,  44. 
Ysaias  mac  Amois,  2. 

Zabulon,  2. 
Zorobel,  4. 


II.— INDEX  OF  LOCAL  NAMES,  TRIBES,  AND  RACES. 


Achad  Farcha,  28. 

Achad  Fobair,  38- 

Ail-Cluaide,  4,  8. 

Ailech  na  Rig,  40. 

Airgiaill,  ace.  Airgiallu,  44. 

Airthir,  74,  dat.  Oirtheraib,  34. 

Alba,  54,  98. 

Albanaig,  116 ;  dat.  Albanchaib. 

Ard-achad,  72. 

Ard  Macha,  30,  34,  44,  46,  74. 

Ard  Sailech,  34. 

Ard-sratha,  100. 

Armoric  (spelt  Arboric)  Letha,  16. 

Ath  Cliath,  30. 

Belach  Gabrain,  32. 
Belach  Ratha,  40. 
Bennchor,  gen.  Bennchuir,  28. 
Berba,  78. 
Biur,  106. 
Benn  Gulbain,  38. 
Brechtain,  20 

Breg,  30,  52,  74,  dat.  Bregaib,  112. 

Bretain,  gen.  pi.  Bretan,  6,  10,  16 ; 

Brettan,  10,   dat.  Brctnaib,  4,  12, 


72,  116;  ace.  pi.  Bretnu,  118. 
Bretnaig,  4,  7,  2. 
Brig  Graide,  22. 

Caer  nam-Brocc,  100. 

Caille  Fochlad,  12. 

Caissel,  32. 

Caldea,  90,  92. 

Capua,  16. 

Carran,  92. 

Cell-dara,  76,  78. 

Cell-fine,  16. 

Cell-scire,  110. 

Cenannus,  110. 

Cenel  ConaiU,  106. 

Clann  Colmain,  30. 

Cluad  s.f.,  gen.  Cluaide,  4,  8. 

Cluain  Deochra,  116. 

Cluain  Eraird,  104.     Iraird,  38. 

Cluain  mdr  Fer  n  Arda,  112. 

Cluainmacnois,  114. 

Conaille  Murthemne,  10,  56. 

Connacht,  12;  dat.pl.    Connachtaib 

56. 
Corprige  Laigen,  102. 


130 


tndex  nf  Local  Names. 


Cruacban  Aigle,  36,  38. 
Currach  Liffi,  114. 

Daire,  106,  108. 
Dairmag,  110. 
Dal  Araide,  10,  16. 
Dal  Conchobair,  52. 
Dea,  16. 
Derlus,  20. 
Disert  Patraic,  38. 
Domnach  Airte,  16. 
Domnach  Patraic,  28,  30. 
Druim  Cliab,  116. 
Druim  Monacb,  114. 
Dun  Lethglasse,  20,  46. 

Ebraide,  10,  12, 
Egipt,  92. 
Eoganacht,  32. 
Eoraip,  14. 

Eriu,  gen.  firenn,  6,  98. 
Ess  mic  Eire,  116. 
Essruaid,  38,  116. 
Etal,  dat.  Etail,  120. 

Fal,  gen.  Fail,  40. 

Ferta  f  er  Feicc,  20  ;  Ferta,  34. 

Fir  Ross,  74. 

Fir  Telach,  66. 

Focbart  Murtbemni,  56. 

Frainc,  dat.  Francaib,  4. 

Glas  noiden,  106. 

Goedil,  gen.  pi.  Goedel,  26,  dat.  pi. 

Goedelaib,  14. 
Gortan,  100. 

Heriu,  v.  firiu. 

Hii  Coluimchille,  116,  118. 

Hui  C.  &c.  v.  Ui  C.  &c. 

lerusalem,  108. 
Inber  Colptha,  21. 
Inber  Dea,  16. 
Inber  Slani,  18. 
Inse  Mod,  100. 

Laigin,  gen.  pi.  Luigen,  14,  16,  102. 
Letba  —  Letavia  v.  Annoric.      Le- 

tha  =  Latium,  38. 
Liffc,  Liphfe,  82,  114. 


Loch  Lapan,  74. 
Locbar,  70. 
Lugbad,  98. 

Macha  (for  Ardmacha),  36, 
Mag  Bile,  28,  104. 
Mag  Breg,  20. 
Mag  Coel,  82. 
Mag  Enaig,  102, 
Mag  Femin,  32. 
Mag  Inis,  20,  42,  44. 
Mag  Laige,  76. 
Mag  Lemne,  68. 
Mag  Liffe,  60,  82. 
Mag  Raigne,  32. 
Manister  (Boiti),  112. 
Martharthech,  32. 
Mendoit  Tire,  30. 
Moen,  114. 
Muir  Thorren,  14. 

Mumu,  gen.  Muman,  32 ;  ace.  Ma- 
main,  32. 

Nemtur,  4,  6,  12. 
Noendruim,  20. 

Oirtbir,  v.  Airtbir. 
Osraige,  32. 

Rachra,  112. 

Rath  Airthir,  30. 

Rathboth,  108. 

Ratb  Dari,  34. 

Ratb  Inber,  30. 

Ratha  Maige  Enaig,  102. 

R6m,  14;  (=Roma,  38);  gen.  Roma, 

16 ;  dat.  Roim,  36,  108. 
Ross  Maithgen,  52. 

Saball  Patraic,  16 ;  =  Saball,  20,  44. 

Sax,  dat.  Saxaib,  116. 

Saxanach,  ace.  pi.  Saxanchu,  118. 

Sil  Aeda  Slaine,  30. 

Sinaind,  104. 

Sith  Aeda,  40,  98. 

Slane,  16,  22. 

Sliab  Armoin,  16. 

Sliab  Betbad,  38. 

Sliab  Breg,  76. 

Sliab  Cua,  38. 

Sliab  Moenuirnd  (Monduirn  ?),  22. 


Index  of   Words. 


13 


Sliab  Mis,  10. 
Sliab  Sina,  16,  36. 
Sliab  Slangai,  38; 
Sord,  114. 

Taillte,  28,  30,  68. 

Tech  na  Roman,  16. 

Tech  Talain,  30. 

Telcha  Mide,  66. 

Tc-mair,  gen.  Tcmraeh,  20,  24,  Tem 
pi,  24,  dat.  Temraig,  20,  24,  ace. 
Temraig,  20,  22. 

Tethba,  68.  72,  74,  108. 

Tibir,  38. 

Tir  Conaill,  116. 


Tir  Enda,  102. 
Tir  Eogain,  40,  116. 
Tir  Laigen,  70. 
Torach,  116. 
Torinis,  108. 

Ui  Cremthainne,  28. 

Ui  Failgi,  58. 

Ui  Garrchon,  30. 

Ui  Maiccuais,  54. 

Ui  Meith,  30. 

Ui  N&ll,  70. 

Ulaid,  10,  gen.  pi.  Ulad,  20,  42,  ace. 

pi.  Ulltu,  16.  44. 
Urmumu,  32. 


82. 


INDEX  OF  THE  RARER  WORDS. 

acht  s.  =  t/at.  actus  116 :  acht  .i.  gnim,  Lebar  Lecain  Vocab.  280. 

actail  s.  (vita)  actualis,  118. 

adaircin,  adircin  s.  inkhorn  120,  a  dimin.  of  adarc  horn,  dat.  pi.  adarcaib 


n.pl.  dible  6  =  aible  80. 


aibell  s.f.  spark,  dat.  aibill 

aicera  v.  atcfu. 

airchisecht  s.  indulgence,  clemency,  84,  7. 

aire  s.  care,  heed  :  dochuaid  cid  m'aire-si  m'oenar  lit.  '  even  heed  of  me 
alone  has  departed,'  78. 

airet  s.  84  =  oiret  space  of  time  110. 

airge  s.  a  place  for  milking  cows,  8  ;  a  dairy,  60,  62.  Hence  airgeeh  s.f. 
dairywoman,  Broec.  h.  11. 

aissec  s.  restitution,  6;  O'R.'s  aiseae. 

amm  s.  time,  56. 

anaichnid  adj.  unknotvn,  106. 

anallana  adv.,  v.  inallana. 

anbrachtach  adj.  consumptive,  68;  gen.  sg.f.  dnlrachtaige,  LB.  60b; 
from  the  negative  prefix  an-  and  the  adj.  brachtach  '  fat.' 

ances,  s-.  ?  74.  Here  and  in  LU.  53a  (111  noicad  a  ances)  and  in  Raul. 
B.  512,  p.  6  b.  1  (roic  cech  ngalar  ocus  cech  n-ancess)  this  word  seems  to 
mean  aching  or  ailment.  Cormac's  ainces  '  doubt '  is  prob.  a  different  word. 

ancride  s.m.  wrong,  34,  54. 

andagud  s.  sinning  80;  from  andach  'sin,  "dat.  anduch  Ml.  134d,  whence 
andgaid  '  nequam '  Z.  608. 

andarleis  it  seemed  to  Mm  102 ;  andarlee  it  seemed  to  her,  100,  andarlimn 
it  seemed-  to  me,  32 ;  darlium  80  meseems  :  cf.  dalim,  indalim  Z,  952. 

angbuid  adj.  hard,  cruel  42.- 

arad  s.  ladder  112. 

arilliud  s.  meritum,  ace.  pi.  ariltne  56 ;  but  in  18,  goods. 

*  Words  such  as  athniugud,  duidlid,  as  to  which  I  am  not  sure  whether  they  are  bluu- 
ders  of  the  scribe  or  the  facsimilist,  are  here  omitted. 


132  Index  of  Words. 

armgaisced  s.m.  armour,  both  offensive  and  defensive,  70.  da  aingel  fdn 
armgaisced  LB.  60b.  rohadnacht  con-armgasciud  LU.  118b. 

ascimm  3d  sg.  2dy.  pret.  act.  no-asced  58,  8. .  Seems  the  verb  cognate 
with  aissec  supra. 

atagur  (ms.  hitagar  !)  I  dread,  36. 

atciu  video,  72;  atciera  videbis,  12;  (f)aicera-so  videres,  72;  itcess  visus 
est  100. 

att  s.  a  swelling  68. 

atfessar  42,  1st   sg.  s-fut.  pass,  of  atfetar. 

bachlach  s.  baculatus,  hence  shepherd,  82,  120;  W.  laglog,  Br.  belec. 

baid  adj.  fond  122. 

bann  s.  law  18. 

bascaire  s.  beating  the  hands  together  in  lamentation  122;  basgaire  gl. 
lamchomairt,  O'Dav.  103 ;  bron  ocus  basgaire  LIT.  33a. 

beccimm  J  bleat,  3d  sg.  s-pret.  absolute  form  beccis,  30. 

becda  adj.  lowly,  meek  ?  122 ;  compar.  used  for  superl.  becdu  LU.  91b. 
13. 

beo  1st  sg.  conj.  of  bin,  70,  beo -mm  78. 

biss  s.  bit,  dat.  pi.  bissib  6. 

bro  s.  (  =  Skr.  grdvan),  quern,,  gen.  broan  64 ;  ace.  broin,  104 

brodirne  s.  a  hair  38,  114;  O'Clery's  brothairne. 

brug  s.  (W.  bro}  district,  dat.  pi.  brugaib  32.  As  the  O.Ir.  form  was 
mrug  (di  Moisten  mine  mrugaib,  Cod.  St.  Paul)  or  mruig  (immruig  thuaithe, 
Lib.  Armach.  lOb  1),  this  word  is  prob.  cognate  with  Lat.  margo,  Zend  merezu, 
0.  Norse  mork,  Goth.  marJca. 

can  adj.jfazV,  clear  40,  98. 

cannadas  s.  56 ;  apparently  another  form  of  cannabar  .i.  cac. 

caplait  s.  Maunday  Thursday  66.  From  Med.  Lat.  capillatio  '  capillo- 
rum  evulsio,'  DuCange,  W.  cablyd,  Corn,  hamlos,  Br.  hamblit. 

cechlathide  adj.  daily,  124. 

cele  de  s.m.  servus  del,  Culdee,  78. 

cendla  s.  dia  dardain  cendla  Maunday  Thursday  68.  Written  cenla  LB. 
lOa  29,  dat.  sg.  cendld  Corm.  s.v.  Caplat. 

cimmid  s.  (O.Ir.  cimbith,  cimbid),  captive  74. 

clechtaimm  I  am  wont,  3d.  pi.  2dy.  pres.  act.  no-chlechtatis  12. 

cleithe  s.  ridgepole,  66. 

clesrad  s.  playing  82. 

clochan  s.  causeway,  a  road  paven  with  stones  (clocha)  24. 

coad  s.m.  a  mess  98  ;  n.pl.  coaid  siirthroscho  (gl.  panibus  qui  efficiuntur 
de  tertia  parte).  Cognate  with  coth  'food.' 

coelach  s.  wattling  108,  from  coel  slender. 

coernnacair  potuit  68,  a  reduplicated  deponential  pret.  (==  coimnucuir  Z, 
871),  probably  from  cumcu  '  possum'  Ml.  18b.  root  NANK. 

coer  comraicc  s.  96. 

coimprimm  I  conceive,  3d  sg.  pret.  act.  coiniprestar  68. 

coirtged  s.  tanning  with  bark  110,  deriv.  from  *coirtech  =  corticem. 

coitchend  s.  Jcitchen  78,  seems  a  blunder  for  cucenn  '  coquina '  gen.  sg. 
cuicni  34. 

colleicc,  coleic  adv.  124,  12,  72,  II,  just  now,  for  the  present,  0.  Ir.  col- 
leicc,  Z.  610. 

comaicse  s.  neighbours  56. 


Index  of  Words,  133 

comairbert  bith  s.f.food  58. 

comairmimm  I  reckon,  I  count  :  ro  comairemsa,  78,  seems  a  corruption 
of  ro-m-comairemad-sa. 

comaithech  s.m.  neighbour,  ace.  pi.  comaithgiu  70. 

combessaib  58,  a  corruption  of  comdessaib  '  coetaneis' :  cf.  seek  mo 
chomdessa  Z.  338. 

cornmamus  s.  wedlock  52,  gen.  sg.  commamsa,  O'Dav.  70,  s.  v.  comaim. 

cosmad  ungebat  44.  The  gen.  sg.  (cosmata)  of  a  cognate  substantive 
occurs  in  Corm.  s.  v.  Caplait. 

cretar  s.  relic  (W.  crair),  dat.  pi.  cretraib  8. 

cumma  s.  the  same,  an  equal  quantity  :  ni  beomm  i  cummaid,  &c.,  78, 
means  either  "  I  should  not  be  (treated)  alike  as  to  the  cow  with  the  Culdees," 
etc.,  or  "  I  should  not  be  offered  the  cow  in  common  with  the  other  leper." 

cuccan  s.  penus  58. 

cuirimm  dar-cend  I  overturn,  3d  pi.-  b-fut.  act.  cuirfit  dar-cend  70. 

cumtaigimm  condo,  in  its  two  senses  of  /  build  and  I  lay  up,  3d  sg.  pret. 
act.  ro-s-cumtaig  34 ;  3d  sg.  pret.  pass,  ro-cumdaiged  28 ;  3d  pi.  pret.  pass, 
ro-cumtaigtea,  36. 

dastar  insanitur  8,  presumably  from  *dasaimm.  The  cognate  substantive 
is  dasacht,  adj.  subst.  dasachtach  76. 

debroth  s.  26,  an  oath  of  Patrick's,  prob.  a  corruption  of  debrad,  derbad. 

deinmmnetach  adj.  hasty,  impatient  72  :  cf.  co  dian  deinm[ne]tach  LU. 
24a,  deinmnitach,  H.  2.  16,  col.  373. 

de'niu-rad  28 ;  deniu  raid  66  j  *  dicto  (raid)  citius'  (deniu,  compar.  of 
diari). 

demince  s.  52.  approbation,  confirmation,  leg.  deminche,  demniche  ?  from 
demnech. 

deolaidecht  s.  favor  ?  42,  90,  cf.  deolid  gratia  Z.  deolaidh  .i.  grdsa  O'Cl. 

dessel  adv.  dextrorsum,  righthandwise  20,  34. 

det  s.  tooth,  ivory,  claideb  det  an  ivory-hilted  sword  64. 

dimdach,  dimmdach  adj.  unthankful  8,  78. 

diulai  adv.  at  the  end  of  the  day,  from  ting  Idi. 

dobegaimm  /  demand,  1  sg.  redupl.  s.-fut.  dobibussa  52,  from  an  Indo- 
European  root  BHAGH,  whence  the  Skr.  desiderative  root  bhiksh  and  per 
haps  the  obscure  Eng.  beg  and  Gr.  TT-T-^-^OQ. 

doethin  s.  sufficiency  122  =  doethain  LU.  25b. 

dofuissmimm  I  pour  forth,  3d  sg.  pres.  indie,  act.  dofuissim,  4. 

doraith  on  behalf  of  102. 

drol  s.  pothook,  ace.  pi.  drolu  82. 

drolmach  s.  tub  66,  74 :  sometimes  spelt  drolbach. 

druimm  dar  druim  adv.  74,  lit.  back  over  back. 

duaid  3d  sg.  pret.  act.  ate  120,  sometimes  ddid.     The  3d  pi.  is  duatar. 

dub  s.  ink  120. 

duchus  (in  fir-duchus)  s.  96,  for  duthchas,  heritage,  a  deriv.  from 
duthaig,  duthoig  (dian-duthoig  Liphe  ligda,  Goidel.  176)  and  cognate  appa 
rently  with  the  redupl.  pret.  do-ru-thethaig  'possedit?'  Tur.  17,  duchusta- 
lam  (duthchus-talam)  s.  native  land,  ace,  sg.  duchustalmain  96. 

duird  s.  fists,  for  duirnd  62. 

duthracur  I  desire  76. 

eccrimm  I  arrange,  ecarthar  1  Senchas  Mdr  152 ;  3d  sg.  pret.  pass,  ro- 
heccrad  96. 


134  Index  of  Words. 

ecmaiss  absence :  ina  hecmais  62  =  'n-a  becmais  94. 

ed  s.  a  space,  106,  inn-ed  ooraueumar  80  ;  ed  radaircc  s.  space  of  si q Jit, 
an  far  as  eye  can  reach  36. 
eittech  adj.  ivinged  20. 
elscothach  adj.  greedy  60. 
enecb  s.  f.face,  honour  62. 

erlattad  adv.  readily  118;  for  *erlamtad,  c.r\&m  paratus  Z.  5  ;  erlom  118; 
orlum  26;  erlaime  17. 

escaine  s.  banning  36,  104,  O'Keilly's  easgaine. 
essair  3d  sg.  s-fut.  passive  of  ithim  '  I  eat '  120. 

essi  s.  used  in  nominal  prepositions;  dar-essi  60;  taran-essi  92;  dian- 
essi  behind  them  16 ;  dia-essi/or  it  18 ;  cf.  tara-essi,  tar-an-essi  Z.  658.  The 
shorter  form  es  occurs  in  dia-£is  118. 

essitb  s.  issue  28,  borrowed  from  exitus. 

eterius  s.  JiostagesJiip  26 ;  from  aitire  (Conn.)  or  eitire  hostage. 
faitbimm   I  laugh,   3d   sg.    pret.   rofaitbestar   62 ;  rofaitfestar   110  = 
foraitbi,  Tur.  62. 

fer  cummtba  s.  comrade  78. 
fer  diguind  s.  grassplot  ?  34. 

feraimm  I  pour,  3d  sg.  pret.  act.  noco-r-fer  banna  not  a  drop  poured 
82. 

ferg-luinde  s.f.  angry  bitterness  78. 

findcbaelach  s.  white  or  peeled  rods  or  willow-wands,  76. 
fine  8.  family  41,  98. 

fingal  s.  parricidium  112;  fingalach  parriddalis  ib.  from  Jin  cogn.  with 
A.S.  wine  l  amicus '  and  gal,  cogn.  with  Litb.  gelu. 

fochainne  s.  106,  seems  to  mean  tribulation.  It  occurs  in  the  plural 
LB.  143a,  line  20  ;  cersat  mora  na  fochainne-sin  '  though  great  were  those 
tribulations.' 

fodecbta  adv.  noiv,  26. 

foitnech  adj.  patient,  84  ;  from  the  n-stem  foditiu. 

folangimm,  I  support,  foloing  sustinet  Z.  431;  3d  pi.  redupl.  pret.  act. 
fo-rai-langatar  82. 

forbacbaimm  I  finish,  end,  3d  pi.  s-pret.  act.  forbachsat  58  ;  cf.  forba  mo 
betbad  Gild.  91. 

forbenimm  perficio,  3d  sg.  s-fut.  act.  forbia  18. 

foremdimm  (for-e-madimm)  I  am  unable,  3d  sg.  pres.  indie,  act.  forem- 
did  78.     3d  sg.  pret.  act.  forfemid,  18. 
formna  s.  shoulder,  26. 

fortbarsnu  adv.  athwart,  68 ;  fortarsnu  LU.  76b,  foretarsnu  70b. 
forusta  s.  a  sage,  from  fonts  'knowledge.' 
foss  s.  servant  122. 

frisgaur  I  answer,  3d  pi.  redupl.  fut.  act.  friscerut  (  =  fris-d-gerat)  18. 
frithbruithimm  /  deny,  refuse,  3d  sg.  2dy  pres.  act.  nofritbbruitiud  (leg.- 
bruithed)  58,  7. 

frithorissair  he  withstood  14. 
fuasnad  s.f.  disturbance,  anger,  dat.  fuasnaid  78. 
furail  s.  prevalence,  32,  .i.  imurcra,  O'Dav.  94. 

gabail  lama  to  cast  forth,  to  drive  bacJc,  do  gabail  a  laina  to  cast  him 
forth,  to  drive  him  back,  38,  116 ;  see  lam. 

gabimm   gr6im  prosum,  ro-s-gab  greim  profuit  62 ;  gebid  (leg.  gebid) 
greim  proderit  94. 


Index  of  Wurds.  135 

garmain  s,  a  weaver's  beam  82. 

geis  s.  ban,  interdict,  tabu,  20,  ace.  geis  62. 

glamud  s.  78,  scolding,  from  gliim,  Conn.  Trans.  87. 

iarmergc,  iairmcrgc  s.  nocturns  106,  124,  also  called  medonaidche,  one  i>l 
the  eight  canonical  hours.  The  others  were  prim  (prime),  teirt  (tern-),  wcdvii- 
Idi  or  eisrutli  (sext),  noin  (none),  fescor  (vespers),  coimpleit  (compline)  and 
tiugnair  (matins). 

iallachrann  s.  sandal  122  .i.  broga,  O'Cl. 

ihimm  =  bibo,  3d  pi.  redupl.  pret.  ebatar  8.  3d  sg.  coivj.  ehi  8,  Isl  pi. 
conj.  ebem  8,  3d  sg.  pret.  att-ib  24. 

imbrimm  —  infero,  3d  pi.  pret.  ro-imbretar  intulerunt  58,  2. 

iinluad  s.  motion,  disturbance,  94,  root  (p)lu. 

immaltoir  30;  imaltoir  clochi  16;  some  kind  of  portable  altar. 

immarbe  s.  falsehood  11,  40;  imarbe  .i.  breg.,  H.  3.18,  p.  525;  scorns 
cognate  with  immarbus  '  sin.' 

immarchor  s.  erring,  straying,  70.     iomarchur  .i.  mearughadh,  O'Cl. 

imnare  s.  great  shamefastness,  bashfulness  102,  from  im  intensive  and 
ndre  'shame.' 

imtha  sin  adv.  likewise  100;  imtha  .i.  ainhlaidh,  nimtha  ,i.  ni  hinaml 
lim.  O'Don.  Supp. 

inallana  adv.  aforetime  94  =  anallana  28,  114. 

inderb  adj.  uncertain,  pi.  indreba  36. 

indlubra  s.  weakness  58. 

isa  whose,  lit.  it  is  his  (hers)  26,  98. 

i-siut  proiu  demonst.  fern,  that,  28. 

istud  s.  42  (  —  etsud  llawl.  B.  512,  p.  29a,  2)  seems  a  loan  from  Lai . 
sfttdens  or  studiosus.  For  the  prosthetic  vowel  cf .  e-scop  fina. 

lam  s.  f.  (=  palma)  hand,  in  the  phrases  il-laim  in  manu  74,  i.  e.  in 
potestate,  techt  do  laim,  dochuaid  do  laim  80,  where  it  means  the  sacrifiee  ol 
the  mass  (cor  lamha  aire  .i.  dul  do  sacarbhaic  H.  3.  18,  p.  521). 

lam  s.  gen.  lama,  (an  u-stern  ?)  occurs  in  the  phrase,  gabail  lama  to  drirc 
back,  and  seems  cognate  with  Ir.  lamach  '  missile  (?)  weapons,'  Gr.  TreXtfJLifa, 
TToXf/KOC)  TraXXw,  Lat.  pello. 

lebrar  s.  f.  books,  dat.  lebrair  106;  cf.  O.W.  plurals  like  pouUorattr 
pugillares.' 

ler  s.  sea,  gen.  lir  34,  dat.  liur  122,  ace.  ler  118- 

lespaire  s.  lamp  40. 

lessugud  s.  lettering  74,  lesugud  60.  Examples  of  the  cognate  verb  are 
no-lesaiged  58,  lesaiges  60. 

leth  a-toibe  1,  50  ;  lit.  half  of  its  side,  seems  to  mean  '  parallel  passage/ 

lia  n.  flood  106  .i.  fleachadh  .i.  tuile,  O'Cl.     Welsh  lli. 

line  s.  =  linea  92 ;  but  whether  it  here  means  fishingline,  or  a  line  madf 
with  pen,  i.  e.  writing,  I  cannot  say.  tre  line  .i.  tre  sgelaib  H.  3.  18,  p.  522. 
Miltiadat  lini,  Fiacc  12. 

lisdutus  s.  mischief  1  78,  liss  .i.  olc,  O'Cl. 

losse  s.  flame,  but  in  84  blush  :  loisi  .i.  lasair,  O'Cl. 

lud,  better  luth,  s.  motion  68  ;  root  (p)lu. 

macha  s.  a  plain  ?  40. 

mafitir  (math-fitir)  is  well  known  10. 

inaidimm  /  break,  3d  pi.  pres.  moidit  80,  3d  sg.  redupl.  pret.  cor-ri-maid 
G  =  cor-re-muid  36,  108. 


x  of   Words. 


maidmige  s.f.  boastfulness  52. 
maistred  s.  chit  r  ni  ny  GO  ;  gen.  maisterda  G2. 

malartaimm  destruo,  disperdo,    malartar    destrualur  22  ;  ni  utalarfae-sin 
(gl.  ne  disperdas)  Ml.  74d. 

manchune  s.  monastic  rule  118. 

)nandar  s.  demolition,  destruction  8  ;  .i.  sgaoileadh,  O'Cl. 
martir  s.  inartyrium,  relic  116 ;  martra  \.  taisi,  H.  3.  18,  p.  52.~>. 
mcircend  adj.  18.    meaning  doubtful, 
milten  s.  honeycomb,  dat.  pi.  miltenaib  8. 
miltnidecht  s.  f.  warfare  44. 

mind  s.   I.   diadem   100  =  0.   W.   minn  serturn,   II.   shrine   106,  ace.  pi. 
niinda  112. 

moc.h'en  s.  welcome  62,  my  welcome  (mo-fochcn  ?) 
nmnigin  s.  confidence,  trust  72,  10. 
munterus  s.familiaritaft  92. 

ueuiidiu-li  s.  a  dweller  in  heacen    38,  opposed  to  iforuacli  (leg.  ifYernach  ?) 
18. 

ocbad    .s.  youths,  warriors  118,  from  do  =  0.  W.   iouenc  and  -vad  =  O. 
W.-gued. 

oclaigimn;  /   become    terrible,    3d   sg.   prcs.  indie,  pass,  oclaicbtbcr  28. 
i'rom  adj.  ocal  =  orjal  'fearful'  O'Don.  Supp. 
oiret  a  space  102.     see  airet. 

osaic  s.   washing  ?  68,  rogab  iarsin   for  dsaic  7  indlat   dia   apstalu  (gl. 
ce])it   lauaro  pedes  diseipulorum)  LB.  51a,  line  22. 

pux  s.  120,  instrumentum  quod  inter  Missarum   solemnia  populo  osculan- 
(luin  praebctur,  DuCange. 
petta  s.  pet,  82. 

pdlaiiv,  polire  s.  looJcaatchel  114,  24,  a  folaire  .i.  uinm  do  teig  liubair,  II, 
3.  18,  p.  522. 

reeboll  s.  ivindiny-sheet,   (O'Clery's   racholl   .i.  brat  mairbk),  dat.    recbull 
120. 

reek's  s.  34,  here  it  obviously  means  a  close;  but  it   generally  means  (;is 
in  114)  a  recluses  cell :  reelusnm  idem  quod  reelusorinm,  DuCaiige. 
reini  s.  a  course :  aidble  reimend,  lit.  vast  ness  of  courses  102. 
rom  adj.  early  40  .5.  moch  no  luatb,  H.  3.  18,  p.  525. 

ruse  s.,  hamper?  62:   possibly  O'R.'s  ruisy  'a  vessel  made  of  the  hark  of 
trees.'      Hr.  rusJcen,  Fr.  ruche. 

saiged  s.  40,  seems  to  mean  '  power:'  and  to  be  cognate    with  Skr.  sahnx, 
(ioth.  siyis,  Nhg.  sitg. 

sairse  s.   freedom  62. 

sdmaigimm  I  place,  3d  sg.  prct.  act.  r-samaig,  98. 
sasad  s.  a  satisfying  59. 

scothsemrach  adj.  full  of  clover-blossom  114. 
siltaid  s.  m.  aoirer  68. 

slipre  s.  rods  for  making   wiekerwork  buildings  78 :  sliprc  oeus  irhlusea 
LB.  214a, 

sobarthan  s.  f.  prosperity,  good  lucJc,  blessing  :  aec.  sobarthain  32,  (>(». 

soimm  adj.  wealthy  34. 

solamachtaige  adj.  (part.  ?)  easily  handled,  palpable  26. 

sord  adj.  clear,  pure,  114. 

snail,  better  susiill  (.i.  beag,  O'Cl.)  Mile,  96. 


In<l\\'  f>/    Words,  137 

sunna  iidv.  here  44. 

tailccnd  s.  in.  asciciput,  adzehead,  a  nickname  for  Patrick. 

larcns  a  3d  sg.  pret.  pass,  meaning  was  offered  :  tarcuid  (targnid,  2 
Seiichas  Mor,  146)  is  the  corresponding  active  form. 

tarmnaigimm  prosum,  tarmnaig  prodest  50,  tarmnaigfid  proderit  54. 

tarr,  tairr  ?  s.  belly,  tail :  fo-a-thairr  78,  should,  I  suspect,  be^or-a-thairr 
on  his  rear,  i.  e.  after  him:  cf.  LIT.  63b — 64a :  IS  nephnar  an-d<>L:iii:if 
Ulaid  masate  file  suncl  tall  ol  Co.  cein  file  in  slog  for-a-tairr  "shameless  is 
what  the  Ulstermen  are  doing  if  it  be  they  who  are  there,"  saith  Cuclmlainn, 
"  while  the  host  is  behind  them." 

tarraigimm  I  overtake,  seize,  3d  sg.  pret.  act.  tarraig  (misprinted  tan-aid) 
12,  tarraighther  '  is  caught,  overtaken,  arrested,'  O'Don.  Supp.  2  pi.  imper 
ative  tarrgid,  Vis.  Ad. 

tarrasair,  staid  82,  tarrasar  122.  ni  tharasar  16,  tarrusar  18,  tarrustar 
14. 

tcoir  s.  Uteoria,  (vita)  theoretica,  118. 

terpud  s.  severance,  8  —  tearbhadh  .i.  dealughadh,  O'Cl. 

tiduapairt  s.  onfall,  attack,  22  =  tiduabairt  (gl.  impetus)  LB.  54b. 
line  36. 

tindrium  s.  exsecutio  116,  trisin-tindrim  (gl.  per  executionem)  Ml. 
tinnriomh  .i,  criochnughadh,  O'Cl. 

tindscra  s.  dower  52. 

toadlimm  J  visit-,  3d  sg.  b-fut.  act.  toadlibi  120:  cf.  do-sn-aidlibea  vixi- 
tabit  eos  Z.  459. 

tochoscem  $.  following  50.  in  carraic  dia  tochoscem  the  (spiritual)  rock 
fofolloiu  them,  LB.  56b  (1  Corinthians  x.  4). 

tocht  s.  piece  .i.  spolla,  O'Cl.  dat.  pi.  tochtaib  60. 

toes  s.  dough  24,  W.  toes,  ex  *stoit-ta  :   cf.  orn/e  gen.  (TTatro'c. 

togaillsc  adj.  pitiful,  compassionate  ?  74;  cf.  ro-togailsigestar  oohadlnil 
fit'  greaili)  pitied  (?)  her,  Egerton  93,  Ib  1. 

togairt  s.  f.  dairy  1  gen.  togorta  62 :  cctna-thogairt  dia  foidcd  thr  Jlsxt 
dairy  (buttermaJcing  ?)  to  which  she  tvas  sent,  Broccan's  hymn,  25. 

tola  s.  flood,  6. 

tonach  s.  borrowed  from  tunica,  28. 

tonngar  s.  wave-voice  84,  tondgar  in  mormara  LB.,  p.  100.  \V.  fun- 
naivr.  Hence  tondgarach  LU.  lib. 

torathor  s.  monster  74  =  torothor  LU.  2a,  2h  :  cogn.  with  rt'pas,   Ttparoc. 

tromdatus  s.  oppressiveness  7<S. 

tuailche  s.  (=  tuaithle  .{.  glicus  H.  3.  18,  p.  528),  ace.  tuadchi,  hclln- 
luaichle,  from  tuachil  (gl.  astutus)  Z.  768. 

tuirthechta  s.  story  ?  116. 

tnirthiud  s.  cause,  occasion  10  =  tuirtlicd  .i.  adbar,  H.  3.  18,  col.  52 J. 

t  usiuimm  parturio,  3d  sg.  2dy  redupl.  fut,  jiass.  notusemtha  56.  Tin- 
iMign.  noun  is  tusmiud,  tusmed  parluritio  56. 

uathad  s.  moon,  lunar  month  66,  hi  coicid  htiatlud  (gl.  in  quinta  luna) 
Z.  310.  Root  pu  ?  cf.  Skr.  i.avamfnia. 

nide  s.  wayfaring,  journey  122. 

ntlach  s.  lapfnl  6,  Ian  a  utlaig  the  full  of  his  l«i>,  Egerton  93^  Ib.  1. 


CORRECTIONS  AND  ADDITIONS. 

p.  5,  line  1,  for  '  brought  into'  read  '  biding-  in' :  1.  18,  for  '  they  tell' 
read  '  there  is  told' ;  1.  37,  for  '  If  the'  read  '  If  his.' 

p.  7,  1.  3,  for  '  the  baptism  could  be  performed'  read  '  he  could  pel-Turin 
the  baptism.'  1.  10,  for  '  a'  read  '  the.' 

1.  14,  read  '  and  overmany  to  recount  and  declare  are  the   miracles 
and  marvels  that  the  Lord  wrought  for  him  in  his  childhood,'  &.c. 
p.  9,  1.  32,  for  '  he  healed  it'  read  '  it  healed/ 
p.  12,  1.  28,  for  '  nitharrazcZ'  read  '  nitharra^/ 
p.  13,  1.  36,/or  'but  Patrick  tarried'  read  'and  overtook  him.' 

1.  39,  after  '  for'   insert  '  the  time  of/ 
p.  14,  1.  *7,for  '  thedesczVt'  read  'thmlesczVt/ 

p.  17,  1.  22,  after  'behind'  insert  'them/  1.  23,  omit  the  words  in 
brackets. 

p.  19,  1.  6,  after  f  answer'  insert  '  him/  11.  8,  9,  for  '  and  his  own,'  &c. 
read  'and  out  of  his  own  princedom  he  shall  perfect  [his  followers]  for 
ever." 

1.  27,  read  '  lie  shall  have  therefor  the  holy,  all  pure  .  . .  habitation/ 
1.   29,  for   '  for  ever'  read  '  — a  lasting  law — / l} 
p.  21,  last  line,  for  '  durst'  read  '  would  dare/ 
p.  23, 1.  19,  after  '  be'  insert  '  now/  .        t 

p.  25, 1.  39,  for  '  wizards'   read  '  wizard/ 
p.  29,  1.  2,  for  '  Congall'  read  '  Comgall.' 

p.  31,  1.  6,  for  '  altar-stone'  read  '  altar/  1.  20,  for  '  preached' .  read 
c  preacheth/ 

1.  27, /or  '  vvas  his   wife.     They  rejected'  read  'he    had    to   wife. 
He  rejccteth/ 

p.  33,  1.  22,  for  '  was'  read  '  is/  1.  25,  for  '  bade  farewell  to'  read  '  blessed/ 

p.  35,  1.  17, for  'been  done'  read  'happened  therein/ 

p.  37»  1.  5,  read  '  Overmany  to  recount  and  declare  are,'  &c. 

1.  10,  read  '  and  they  were  laid  up  here  by   Patrick  in   Paul   and 
Peter's  shrine/ 

p.  39, 1.  10,  dele  ...  1.  13,  for  'prayed'  read  'besought  Him/ 
1.  16,  for  '  rang  '  read  '  struck/ 
1.  18,  read  '  and  he  orders  seven  of  his  household/ 
1.  19,  for  '  in  his  lifetime'  read  '  (who  are  still)  alive/ 
1.  23,  for  '  after  this'  read   '  thereafter/ 
1.  26, for  'manse'  read  'holy  dwelling/ 
1.  28,  for  'seize  his  hand'  read  '  cast  him  forth/ 

p.  43,  1.  12,  for  « shall  be'  read   '  I  will   make/     1.    24,  for    'a •>!' 

wisdom'  read   '  studious  of  wisdom/ 

p.  44,  last  line,  for  Atcownaicset  read  Atconaicset. 

p.  45, 1.  2,  for  'cold'  read  'bare/     1.  20,  for  'household'  read  '  thorpe/ 

1.  33,  for  '  in  earthly  things'  read  '  on  earth/ 

p.  55,  1.  19,  for  'hath  distinguished'  read  'distinguished/  1.  27,  for 
'cruelty  which  thou  shewest'  read  '  wrong  which  thou  doest/  1.  28,  for 
'  these'  read  '  those/ 


Corrections  and  Additions.  139 

p.  56,  1.  25,  for  itcowncatar  read  itconcatar. 

p.  57,  1.  7,  for  '  The  child  that  shall,'  &c.,  read  '  that  the  child  that 
would  be  brought  forth  on  the  morrow  at  sunrise  would  overtop/  &c. 

1.  11,  for  'Said  the  poet.    'The,'  &c.,  read  'The  prophet  said  that 
the  child  that  would  be  brought  forth  on  the  morrow,'  &c. 

1.   13,  for   'shall'    read   'should.'      1.   17,   before   'Brigit'    insert 
'  Saint.' 

1.  21,  for  '  in  the  eighth  moon'  read  '  on  the  eighth  of  the  lunar 
month.'     1.  34,  before  '  the'  insert  '  the  grace  of.' 

p.  59,  1.  8,  for  '  her  compeers'  read  '  those  of  her  age.' 
1.  9,  for  '(the  food)  away'  read  'back.' 
11.  1  2,  13,  for  '  enjoined'  read  '  entrusted.' 
1.  24,  for  '  bade'  read   '  makes.' 
1.  37,  for  '  flock'  read  <  herd.' 

p.  61,  1.  37,  after  '  feed'  insert  '  full  :'  dele  the  foot-note. 
p.  62,  1.  11,  for  '  ruse'  read   '  ruse.' 

p.  63,  11.  4,  6,  15,  16,  19,  for  'firkin'  read  'hamper.'  1.  13,  for  '  mock 
ed'  read  'laughed.' 

p.  65,  1.  27,  for  '  nobleman'  read  '  man  of  good  kin  :'  last  line,  fo, 
'  snatch  it'  read  '  snatch  thee.' 

p.  67,  1.  20,  add  '  Still  remaineth  the  altar's  leg  that  lay  in  Brigit's  hand 
though  the  three  other  legs  were  burnt.'  The  miracle  here  referred  to  is 
told  more  fully  in  a  note  to  the  Felire,  Feb.  2.  "  And  while  he  [Bishop 
Moel]  was  reading  orders  upon  her,  Brigit  was  biding  thus  -the  leg  of  the 
altar  in  her  hand  ;  and  seven  churches  were  burnt,  and  that  leg  was  in  them, 
und  it  was  not  burnt,  sed  servata  est  per  gratiam  Brigittae." 

p.  68,  1.  4,  for  'abrachtach'  read  '  a  [n]brachtach'  and  for  '\>rigi,t'  read 


1.  5,  for  '  anosaie'  read  '  anosaic.' 

p.  69,  1.  2,  after  '  when'  insert  '  on  Maunday  Thursday.' 
1.  4,  for  '  maimed'  read  '  consumptive/ 

11.  19,  20,  for  '  the  child  had  been  conceived'  read  '  had  she  con- 
ceived  the  child/ 

p.  70,  1.  29,  for  'immachor'  read  'imma[r]chor. 

p.  71,  1.  2,  for  '  am'  read  'was/     1.  24,  for  '  shall'  read  '  should'  and  for 
'  one  serve'  read  '  work  in/     1.  34,  for  '  weapons'  read  '  armour/     1.  35,  for 
......  read   'that  he  might   move   to   and   fro   thereunder.'     1.  37,  for  ...... 

read  '  was  the  "King  astray  and  he  attained  not  even  a  thousand  paces,  so  the 
armour  was  given/  &c. 

p.  73,  1.  15,  for  '  impatient'  read  '  hasty.' 
p.  75,  1.  2,  for  ......  read  'compassionate/ 

1.  31,  for  '  anguish'  read  '  ailment/ 
p.  77,  1.  5,  for  '  destroying'  read  '  harrying/ 

p.  79,  1.  32,  after  '  Cennselach'  insert  '  that  is,  the  queen  of  Leinster/ 
1.  43,  after  'built'  insert  'saint/     1.  13,  for   'displeased'    read  'unthankful/ 
1.  17,  for  '  am  not  to  be  slighted'  read  '  should  not  be  (treated) 
like  them/ 

1.  29,  read  '  But  the  haughty  leper  fell  in  the  stream,  and  his  cow 
after  him,  and  was  drowned/ 

p.  80,  1.  20,  for  achmc?  read  achind. 


i^o  Corrections  and  Additions. 

p.  81,  1.  7,  for  '  Let  them'  read  '  They  shall.'     1.  25,  /or  ' confess   to* 
read  '  receive  the  sacrament  from.' 

1.  30,  for  '  (credence  table  ?)'  read  '  portable  altar.' 
1.  34,  for  '  confession'  read  '  to  the  sacrament.' 

p.  83,  lines  1  and  3,  for  '  bondsman'  read  '  shepherd.'     1.  21,  after  '  was' 
insert  'biding.' 

p.  91,  1.  5,  omit  '  God.' 

p.  93,  1.  15,  before  'Antony'  insert  'of.' 

p.  95,  1.  22,  for  '  hitherto'  read  '  aforetime.'     1.  35,  for  '  availeth'  read 
'  shall  avail.' 

p.  97,  1.  21,  for   '  inlaid'  read  '  set  forth.'     1.  35,  for  '  native  country' 
read  'heritage.' 

p.  99,  !.  11,  for  '  dish'  read  '  mess.' 

p.  103,  1.  29,  for  '  began  to  rehearse'  read  '  takes  to  rehearsing.' 

p.  107,  1.  28,  for  '  some  distance.     He  went'  read  '  as  far  as.' 
1.  291, for  'pestilence!'  read  'tribulation!' 

p.  113,  1.  2,  for  'This'  read  'That.'     1.  16,  for  'Ossene'  read  '  Ossine.' 
1.  37,  for  '  offertory'  read  '  offering.' 

p.  115,  1.  14,  for  '  yonder'   read   '  some   time  ago.'     1.  36,  for  '  shred' 
read  '  hair.' 

p.  1 16,  1.  3,  for  '  cro'  read  '  cor.' 

p.  117,  1.  25, for  'neglect'  read  'work.' 

p.  119,  1.  11,  for  'meditation'  read  'contemplation.' 

p.  122,  1.  1,  for  itcomicatar  read  iteoncatar. 

p.  123,  1.  23,  for  '  more  retiring'  read  '  meeker.' 


' 


BX  4678  .15  1877  SMC 
Three  Tiiddle-Irish  homilies 
on  the  lives  of  saints  Patri